^-t»    >  *^tf~r. 


Mim 


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^* 


.THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 

!  Princeton,.  ,N.  J.  f  > 

;  From  the  Rev.  W.  B.  I#IAGIJe',  D.D.    Sept.  1839  f 

'  -  -  ■    #  ; 


hS^i^£S^^^i^j>Sk.AUAS^^a-  ,xQ-  ^  .stv  s^^^lo.  , 


ll  C<fS(\    Division: 

I  '*»''*^''/v  Sectioi-fc 

D         i?oo/.-,    ,, 

No. ........ 

sec 


A  N 


APPEAL 

TO 

THE   PUBLIC, 

ON  THE  SUBJECT  OF 

lihe    Riots   in    Birmingham* 

TO  WHICH  ARE  ADDED, 

SXRICTURES  ON  A  PAMPHLET, 

INTITLED 

Thoughts  on  the  late  Riot  at  Birmingham* 
By  Jofeph  Priejlley^  ll.d.  F.R.S.  &c. 


quis  novus  iste  furor  }  quo  nunc,  quo  tenditis  ? 

Virgil. 


Birmingham^ 

PRINTED    BY    J.  THOMPSON; 
SOLD   BY  J.  JOHNSON,    NO.  72,   ST.  PAUL'S   CHURCHYARD,  LONDON. 


MDCCXCI, 


THE    DEDICATION. 


To  the  People  of  England, 


MY  COUNTRYMEN, 


I  PRESENT  myfelf  before  you 
in  a  fituation  that  ought  to  engage 
your  attention,  becaufe,  in  fad,  it  no 
lefs  concerns  yourfelves  than  me.  It 
has  hitherto  been  your  great  boaft,  that 
you  were  poffeffed  of  the  beft  form  of 
government  in  the  world ;  that  in 
England  all  men  are  fubjed:  to  the 
laws,  from  the  king  upon  the  throne 
to  the  meaneft  perfon  in  the  realm; 
that  no  man  can  be  long  confined, 
much  lefs  punilhed,  without  the  fent- 

ence 


vi  THE  DEDICATION. 

ence  of  law;  that  whenever  any  man 
is  accufed  of  a  crime,  opportunity  is 
given  him  to  make  his  defence,  in  the 
prefence  of  his  accufers  and  of  the 
witncffes  agiinft  him ;  and  that  in  all 
cafes  he  muft  be  tried  by  his  peers,  by 
perfons  in  a  Situation  in  all  refpefe 
fimilar  to  his  own,  fo  that  they  them- 
felves  may  exped:  the  fame  treatment 
in  the  fame  circumftances.  Without 
this  you  are  fenfible  there  can  be  no 
equal  law,  or  equal  liberty.  It  has 
alfo  been  the  great  pride  of  Englifh- 
men,  that  with  us  the  prefs  is  free; 
fo  that  any  opinion  whatever,  civil  or 
religious,  may  be  openly  propofed,  and 
difcuifed,  without  any  apprehenfion  of 
danger. 

A  jealoufy  with  refpedl  to  law 
has  ever  diftinguifhed  Englifhmen,  fo 
that  you  have  been  content  to  fujffer 
the  greateft  pefts  of  fociety  to  efcape 

punilhment, 


THE    DEDICATION.  vii 

punifliment,  rather  than  the  law  fhould 
be  violated  in  their  perfons ;  reafoning 
juftly,  that  it  is  better  that  one  man, 
though  ever  fo  criminal,  fhould  efcape 
punifhment,  than  that  a  precedent 
fhould  be  eftabliflied,  in  confequence 
of  which  thoufands  of  innocent  perfons 
might  be  expofed  to  fufFering ;  and 
this  might  be  the  cafe  if  any  arbitrary 
mode  of  proceeding  fliould  be  encou- 
raged in  courts  of  juflice.  Should  a 
perfon  actually  condemned  to  die  for 
the  greateft  crime,  be  put  to  death 
otherwife  than  by  the  fentence  of  a 
judge,  and  by  the  direction  of  the  fhe- 
rifF,  it  would  be  deemed  murder ;  fo 
facred  do  you  juftly  efteem  the  regular 
execution  of  the  laws,  not  bearing  that 
any  punifliment  fliould  be  inflided  but 
fuch  as  the  law  directs,  and  in  the 
precife  manner  directed  by  it.  Need  I 
then  to  fay  what  you  ought  to  think 
of  the  mode  of  proceeding  againft  me 

A  4  and 


vlii  THE   DEDICATION. 

and  my  friends  at  Birmingham,  when 
all  that  I  am  charged  with  is  the 
freedom  of  my  writings  ? 

I  was  born  an  Englifliman  as  well 
any  of  you.  Though  labouring  un- 
der civil  difabilities,  as  a  Diffenter,  I 
have  long  contributed  my  fhare  to 
the  fupport  of  government,  and  fup- 
pofed  I  had  the  protedion  of  its  con- 
ftitution  and  laws  for  my  inheritance. 
But  I  have  found  myfelf  greatly  de- 
ceived ;  and  fo  may  any  of  you,  if, 
like  me,  you  fhould,  with  or  without 
caufe,  be  fo  unfortunate  as  to  incur 
popular  odium.  For  then,  as  you 
have  feen  in  my  cafe,  without  any 
form  of  trial  whatever,  without  any 
intimation  of  your  crime,  or  of  your 
danger,  your  houfes  and  all  your  pro- 
perty may  be  deftroyed,  and  you  may 
not  have  the  good  fortune  to  efcape 
with  life,  as  I  have  done.     Other  in^ 

nocent 


THE  DEDICATION.  k 

nocent  perfons  alfo  may  be  involved 
in  the  fame  cakmities  with  yourfelves. 
What  are  the  old  French  Lettres  de 
Cachet^  or  the  horrors  of  the  late  de- 
moUfhed  Bajiile^  compared  to  this  ? 
Make  then  my  cafe,  what  it  foon  may 
be,  your  own,  and  you  will  not  rate 
the  advantages  of  the  Britifh  conftitu- 
tion  fo  high  as  you  have  generally 
done.  For  in  what  part  of  the  world 
could  a  peaceable  citizen  have  had  lefs 
protection  of  law,  or  enjoy  \t{s  fecurityy 
which  is  the  great  end  of  all  civil  go- 
vernment ? 

If  we  offend  againft  the  laws,  let 
us  be  tried  according  to  law,  and  fuf- 
fer  the  penalty  denounced  by  it.  I 
do  not  flee  my  country,  and  am  at  all 
times  amenable  to  the  laws  of  it.  But 
as  you  would  not  allow  me  to  judge 
in  my  own  cafe,  and  take  my  revenge 
upon  any  perfon  whom  I  might  have 

conceived 


X  THE    DEDICATION. 

conceived  to  have  injured  me,  let  not 
others  w^reak  their  vengeance  upon 
me. 

You  will  fay  that  llich  outrages  as 
thefe  cannot  be  prevented  under  any 
government,  that  they  are  like  hurri- 
canes or  earthquakes ;  fo  that  to  com- 
plain of  them,  is  to  complain  of  the 
order  of  nature  and  providence.  But 
not  to  fay  that  fufficient  provilion 
might  ealily  be  made  to  prevent  any 
diforder  of  this  kind,  our  complaint  is 
that  the  injury  is  not  univerfally  re- 
fen  ted.  The  Country  does  not  yet 
fufficiently  feel  the  difgrace  that  has 
been  done  to  it,  and  great  numbers 
rather  exult  in  our  fufferings,  fo  that 
we  are  far  from  thinking  ourfelves  fe- 
cure  from  farther  injuries.  Many  per- 
fons  not  only  exprefs  no  difapprobation 
of  our  fufferings,  or  of  the  illegal 
manner  in  which  they  were  inflided, 

but 


THE    DEDICATION.  xi 

but  plainly  enough  threaten  us  with 
more  outrages  of  the  fame  kind*. 

Before  you,  therefore,  T  accufe  my 
townfmen,  and  many  others,  whom 
I  have  defcribed,  of  the  greateft  in- 
jufcice  and  cruelty  ;  and  not  having 
had  an  opportunity  before  my  pu- 
nifhment,  I  now  after  it,  plead  my 
caufe,  and  explain  my  whole  conduct 
in  this  ApfeaL  Rather,  the  laws 
themfelves,  the  laws  that  have  been 
violated  in  my  cafe,  complain  that 
they  have  been  infringed,    and  that  a 

*  Among  other  circumftances  which  prove  this,  is  the 
following  extraii-  from  a  printed  paper,  dated  Birmingham 
Conftituiional  Tavern^  OSt.  17,  1 79 1,  fent  to  me  by  the 
poft  from  Birmingham.  «  But  let  them"  (the  Dlffenters) 

"  beware The  arm  of  Loyalty  has  been  raifed  againft 

"them — Their  pyffent  (deportment  is  in  proof  that  it  was 
"  needful.  The  bolt,  though  fliot,  is  not  intlrely  fprnt, 
"  and  the  people  at  large  have  too  much  affeclion  for  their 
*'  King,  and  reverence  for  their  prefent  government, 
"  to  fuffer  either  of  them  to  be  attacked  with  impjmity^  by 
«  the  arts  of  ih'-  feditious.  The  lion  is  too  magnanimous 
"to  trample  upon  \ht fallen — Mfufe  not  then  his  noble 
"  nature,  ye  Diflenters — for  if  ye  again  amufe  him — "Vour 
"  Commentator  Mr.  Keir  may  explain  the  confcquences" 

principle 


xii  THE    DEDICATION. 

principle  which  leads  to  all  confufion, 
and  the  diffolution  of  all  government, 
has  ufurped  their  place.  And  no  fo- 
reign enemy  can  be  fo  dangerous  to 
you  as  this  within  yourfelves. 

But  we  fufFer,  it  is  faid,  as  Dif- 
fenters  from  the  eftablifhed  religion. 
On  this  account  we  have  a  double 
title  to  protedlon.  A  Diflenter  is  one 
of  a  minority,  and  the  Unitarian  Dif- 
fenters,  with  whom  I  clafs  myfelf,  are 
a  fmall  minority,  though  an  increasing 
one.  We  therefore  ftand  in  greater 
need  of  the  protection  of  law ;  and  it  is 
the  more  inexcufable  to  treat  us  ill, 
becaufe  you  have  nothing  to  fear  from 
us.  You  are  more  obliged  to  Dif- 
fenters  than  to  other  members  of  the 
community,  as,  befides  bearing  the 
whole  expence  of  our  own  religion,  we 
contribute  our  fhare  to  the  expence 
of  yours.     If  we  be  not  defedlive  in 

any 


THE    DEDICATION.  xiu 

any  civil  duty,  why  fhould  we  be  ex- 
pofed  to  any  civil  punifhment  ?    Leave 
pur  religion  to  our  confciences,  and  to 
God,    whom   alone   it  concerns,   and 
confider  how  you  would  wifli  to  be 
treated  if  you  lived  in  a  country  where 
any  other  religion  than  your  own  was' 
profefled.     We  are  excluded,  and  wo 
think  unjuftly,  from  civil  employments 
and  emoluments.     If  you  think  pro- 
per to  continue  this  negative  punifli- 
ment,   do  not  add  pojitive  ones,   and 
leaft  of  all  encourage  fuch  as  are  ille- 
gal, and  which  may  introduce  evils  of 
an  unknown  nature  and  extent,  which 
even    your  lateft    pofterity  may  feel. 
For  fuch  has  been  the  cafe  of  perfecu- 
tion  in  other  countries,  even  when  it 
was  carried   on  in  a  much  more  un- 
exceptionable manner  than  it  has  been 
at  Birmingham. 

As  to  the  French  Revolution^  the 
defence  and  cpmmemoration  of  which 

has 


xiv  THE    DEDICATION. 

has  been  imputed  to  myfelf  and  others 
as  fo  great  a  crime,  you  will  foon  fee 
it  in  a  different  light.  The  enormous 
expences  of  all  modern  European  go- 
vernments have  opened  the  eyes  of  men 
to  the  nature  and  ufes  of  government 
in  general ;  and  in  confequence  of  this, 
the  whole  of  the  Gothic  Feudal  fyftem, 
embracing  matters  both  of  a  civil  and 
ecclefiaftical  nature,  is  beginning  to 
fliake  to  its  foundation.  This  will  ne- 
ceffarily  produce  a  convulfion  that  will 
be  felt  in  every  ftate  in  Europe.  All 
nations  muft  ultimately  be  benefited  by 
it,  though  they  may  iuffer  by  the  tem- 
porary {hock.  But  be  affured  that  thofe 
countries  will  fuffer  the  leaft  in  which 
great  revolutions  will  be  prevented 
by  temperate  and  feafonable  reforms. 
Then  we,  who  have  fuffered  by  the  fury 
of  a  mifguided  populace  (who  have 
committed  their  lawlefs  devaftations 
in  the  name  of  the  church  and    the 

King) 


THE   DEDICATION.  kv 

King)  {hall  be  confidered  as  the  mar- 
tyrs of  your  liberties ;  and  in  the  firm 
belief  of  this  we  joyfully  bear  all  their 
outrages. 

As  individuals  we  pretend  not  to 
deferve  your  notice;  but  our  cafe  is 
general,  and  we  hope  it  will  lead  you 
to  refpedl,  if  not  us,  at  leaft  the  law, 
yourfelves,  and  your  pofterity. 

Though  an  advocate  for  reforma- 
tion, I  am  a  friend  to  the  general  prin- 
ciples of  our  conftitution ;  and  as  a 
well-wifher  to  my  country,  and  every 
defcription  of  men  in  it,  I  fubfcribe 
myfelf. 

Your  injured  Countryman, 

J.  PRIESTLEY. 

London y  Nov,  i,  1791. 


ftiE    PREFACE, 


Fi 


EW  perfons  who  have  addrefl'ed  the 
PubHc  have  ever  been  in  circumftances  which 
made  it  fo  difficuh  to  give  fatisfadlion  to 
their  different  readers  as  I  now  am  in,  owing 
to  their  different  opinions  and  prepofTeilions 
with  refpeft  to  the  fubje£l  of  this  Appeal. 
Thofe  who  have  ah'eady  formed  their  opi- 
nion as  to  the  facls,  will  conclude  that  every 
account  which  reprefents  them  as  having 
been  different  from  what  they  have  con- 
ceived them  to  be,  is  certainly  falfe,  if  not 
from  defign,  yet  from  mifapprehenfion. 
They  who  are  agreed  with  refpe6l  to  the 
fa5fs  will  draw  different  conclufions  from 
them  J  and  even  they  who  agree  both  with 
refpe6l  to  the  fa6ls  and  the  conclufions,  will 
think  very  differently  of  the  temper  and  man- 
ner in  which  they  fhould  be  fpoken  of,  efpe- 
cially  by  myfelf,  who  am  fo  much  a  party 
concerned. 

b  With 


svili  THE    PREFACE. 

With  refpe6l  to  my  enemies,  do  what  I 
will,  I  fliall  be  equally  cenfured.  With 
them  all  my  fa6ls  will  be  falfehoods,  the 
language  of  juft  indignation  Will  be  info- 
lence,  and  that  of  chriftian  meeknefs  either 
meannefs  or  hypocrify.  I  fhall  therefore 
make  myfelf  perfeftly  eafy  as  to  what  they 
may  fay  of  me.  Where  there  is  nothing 
to  lofe,  there  is  nothing  to  fear. 

My  friends  whofe  feelings  are  as  dif- 
ferent as  their  conftitutions,  will  expe6l 
that,  writing  as  it  were  in  a  common  caufe, 
I  fhould  exprefs  their  precife  fentiments 
and  feelings.  But  this  being  evidently  im- 
polTible,  I  can  only  exculpate  them,  by  de- 
claring that  both  the  fentiments  and  the  lan- 
guage of  this  work  are  folely  my  o^vn,  and 
fuch  as  arofe  from  my  feelings  at  the  time 
of  writing,  which  was  prefently  after  my 
arrival  in  London,  while  the  fcenes  that  I 
have  defcribed  were  freih  in  my  mind,  with 
a  very  few^  alterations  and  additions  occa- 
lioned  by  fubfequent  accounts. 

^  I  make  no  apology  for  the  feverity  with 
which  I  have  occafionally  condemned  the 
condu6l  of  my  adverfaries.  For  what  greater 

crimes 


THE    PREFACE.  xlx 

crimes  can  men  commit  with  refpe6l  to 
fociety,  than  thofe  which  they  either  have 
committed,  or  intended,  and  in  which  they 
now  exult?  But  this  impUes  no  mahce,  or 
ill-wijl  towards  them.  I  fmcerely  pray  for 
them  in  the  language  of  the  liturgy,  for 
which  they  pretend  to  have  fo  nobly  exerted 
themfelves,  that  as  "  my  enemies,  perfecu- 
"  tors,  and  flanderers,  God  would  forgive 
"  them,  and  turn  their  hearts."  As  to  the 
do6lrine  of  chriftian  meeknefs,  forgivenefs 
of  injuries,  and  love  of  our  enemies,  it 
fhould  be  interpreted  by  our  Saviour's  own 
condu6t.  For  it  will  not  be  faid  that  he 
felt  otherwife  than  he  ought  to  have  done 
with  refpe6l  to  lots  enemies  j  and  certainly  his 
language  is  invariably  that  of  the  ftrongeil 
indignation  and  reproof.  The  fame  was 
that  of  Paul,  and  of  all  the  apoftles,  to- 
wards thofe  who,  in  their  opinion,  cor- 
rupted the  gofpel,  and  oppofed  their  mi- 
niftry. 

A  ftrong  fenfe  of  the  impropriety  of 
men's  fentiments  and  condu6l  naturally  ex- 
preffes  itfelf  in  indignant  language,  though, 
when  coming  from  a  chrillian,  it  will  al- 
ways be  accompanied  with  the  mod  fmcere 
companion  for  the  flate  of  depravity  into 
b  2  which 


XX  THE    PREFACE. 

which  malignity  of  mind  neceffarily  fmks 
men ;  and  all  that  chriflianity  can  do,  is 
earneftly  to  wifh  and  pray,  that  our  adver- 
faries  may  be  brought  to  a  better  flate  of 
mind,  in  order  to  their  being  entitled  to  our 
complacency,  and  forgivenefs  in  the  proper 
fenfe  of  the  word. 

With  refpe6l  to  the  high  church  party 
in  this  country,  I  may  be  confidered  as  in  a 
flate  of  open  war.  I  utterly  diflike  their  prin- 
ciples and  maxims,  as  they  do  mine ;  and  I 
fcruple  not  to  take  any  fair  opportunity  of 
exprefling  this  diflike  in  the  mofl  unequivo- 
cal language.  Let  them  do  the  fame  with 
refpe6t  to  my  principles ;  but  let  us  obferve 
the  rules  of  honourable  war.  If,  however, 
they  chufe  to  proceed  as  they  have  begun  to 
do  at  Birmingham,  I  do  not  wifh  to  follow 
their  example.  They  will  find  in  time  that 
to  conquer  in  that  manner  is  no  vi6lory. 
To  conciliate  thefe  perfons  I  confider  as  a 
thing  abfolutely  impoffible,  and  therefore 
not  worth  attempting.  Whatever  tends  mofl 
completely  to  my  juflification,  will  only 
irritate  them  the  more  j  as  was  the  cafe  with 
my  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Binningham. 
They  are  parties  againil  whom  I  plead  3  and 
thofe  that  I  wifh  to  conciliate  are  our  com- 
mon 


THE    PREFACE.  xxl 

mon  judges,  our  countrymen  in  general,  the 
world  at  large,  and  efpecially  poflerity. 

Whatever  has  been  my  indignation 
againft  my  enemies,  I  have  never  forgotten, 
and  I  hope  never  fhall  forget,  that  their 
condu6l  forms  a  part  of  the  plan  of  a  wife 
and  juft  providence;  that  they,  as  well  as 
myfelf,  have  a  proper  place  in  the  general 
fyllem,  the  great  fcope  of  which  is  general 
and  infinite  good,  of  which  they  alfo,  in 
due  time,  will  partake;  though  I  rejoice, 
and  am  truly  thankful,  that  their  place 
is  not  mine.  On  this  occafion  I  (hall  take 
the  liberty  to  quote  what  I  wrote  long  ago 
in  the  Dedication  of  my  Treatife  on  Philofo^ 
fbical  NeceJJity  to  the  late  excellent  Dr.  Jebb. 

"  You  and  I,  Sir,  rejoice  in  the  belief, 
"  that  the  whole  human  race  are  under  the 
"  fame  wholefome  difcipline,  and  that  they 
"  will  all  derive  the  moft  valuable  advan- 
"  tages  from  it,  though  in  different  degrees, 
"  in  different  ways,  and  at  different  periods  ; 
"  that  even  the  perfecutors  are  only  giving 
"  the  precedence  to  the  perfecuted,  and  ad- 
"  vancing  them  to  a  much  higher  degree  of 
"  perfe6lion  and  happinefs ;  and  that  they 
**  muft  themfelves  undergo  a  more  fevere 
b  3  "  difcipline 


xxu  THE    PREFACE. 

"  difcipline  than  that  which  they  are  the 

"  means  of  adminiftering  to  others." 

"  With  this  perfuafion  we  cannot  but 
"  confider  every  Bei?ig  and  every  thing  in 
"  a  favourable  light.  Every  perfon  with 
"  whom  we  have  any  connexion  is  a  friend, 
"  and  every  event  in  life  is  a  benefit,  w^hile 
*'  God  is  equally  the  father,  and  the  friend, 
"  of  the  whole  creation." 

Feeling  myfelf  to  be  a  publicly  injured 
perfon^  I  cannot  abandon  the  fenfe  of  dig- 
nity, peculiar  to  that  chara6ler,  or  not 
feel  the  fuperiority  which  it  gives  me  over 
my  injurersy  and  which  will  necefTarily  in- 
fluence the  language  in  which  I  fpeak  of 
them. 

If  I  be  afked  whom  I  confider  as  my  ene- 
mies, as  holding  principles  moft  oppofite  to 
mine  (which  has  been  the  true  caufe  of  their 
animofity  towards  me)  I  anfwer  without 
hefitation,  all  thofe,  of  the  clergy  or  laity, 
who  are  the  avowed  advocates  for  every 
thing  continuing  as  it  now  is,  in  church 
and  ftate.  Their  genuine  fentiments  may 
be  feen  in  the  late  Addrefs  of  the  Town  of 
Birmingham  to  the  Kingy  in  which  they  fay 

that 


THE    PREFACE.  xxiii 

that  "  they  will  oppofe  with  their  lives  and 
"  fortunes,  every  attempt  at  innovation." 

Thofe  who  diflike  this  language,  who 
are  a  great  number,  even  among  the  clergy, 
I  am  far  from  confidering  in  the  light  of 
adverfaries.  They  are  friends,  engaged  in 
the  fame  caufe,  though  occupying  different 
pofts.  We  equally  wifli  that  the  world, 
and  every  thing  in  it,  fliould  improve.  We 
think  there  are  things  both  in  church  and 
flate  that  require  reformation,  and  that  in 
every  country  pretending  to  freedom,  there 
fhould  be  full  liberty  to  point  thefe  out, 
and  make  them  the  fubje(5ls  of  free  dif- 
cufTion. 

From  the  love  that  we  bear  to  our 
country,  and  even  to  our  enemies  in  it,  we 
think  it  our  duty  to  point  out  whatever  we 
think  to  be  defective  in  its  conflitution  j  and 
we  fliall  do  it  with  the  more  freedom  and 
energy,  from  confidering  the  dreadful  evils 
which  have  lately  arifen  from  thefe  defe6ls  at 
Birmingham.  What  was  there  worfe  than 
this  that  took  place  during  the  great  revo- 
lution in  France,  which  I  and  many  others 
confider  as  having  ilTuedin  a  moft  glorious 
flate  of  liberty  and  happinefs  ?  Whereas,  all 

that 


xxlv  THE    PREFACE. 

that  we  yet  fee  at  Birmingham,  is  the  mad 

triumph  of  bigotry,  and  fuch  as  was  feldom 

exhibited  even  in  ages  of  acknowledged  bar- 

barifm*. 

I  trull:,  however,  that  though  nothing 
but  evil  appears  at  prefent,  much  good  will 
in  due  time  arife  from  it,  if  not  to  this 
country,  in  which  the  fpeftacle  is  exhibited, 
yet  to  Europe,  and  the  world  at  large.  To 
every  refle61ing  mind  the  riots  in  Birming- 
ham, muft  fet  in  a  peculiarly  ftrong  light 
the  baneful  nature  of  bigotry,  and  the  evils 
to  which  men  are  expofed  in  a  country 
deftitute  of  a  good  police.  Even  the  laws 
of  this  country,  whofe  great  boafl:  it  has 
been  that  it  is  the  only  feat  of  true  liberty y 

*  How  different  are  the  fpe6tacles  that  are  now  ex- 
hibited in  France  and  in  England?  Here  bigotry  has 
been  foftered,  and  lias  acquired  new  ftrength.  There  it 
is  almoft  extind^:.  Here  the  friends  of  the  eftablifhment 
are  burning  the  meetlng-houfes  of  the  Diffenters,  with  all 
the  rage  of  Crufaders;  while  in  Paris  one  of  the  churches 
has  been  procured  by  the  Proteftants.  It  was  opened  by 
one  of  their  minifters  to  a  crouded  audience,  among  whom 
•were  many  Catholics,  all  in  tears  of  joy  for  the  happy 
change.  The  preacher's  text  was,  The  night  is  far  fpent^ 
the  day  is  at  hajid.  Here  we  muft  rather  preach  from 
Ifaiah  Ix.  2.  Behold^  darknefs  Jhall  cover  the  land,  and  grofs 
darknefs  the  people. 

are 


THE    PREFACE.  xxv 

are  in  a  great  degree  intolerant;  but  the 
fpirit  of  the  people,  if  not  that  of  the  go- 
vernment, appears  to  be  much  more  fo,  and 
the  world  will  foon  fee  to  what  this  leads. 

If  it  be  to  goodj  it  will  be  a  new  thing  in 
this  old  world  of  ours,  viz.  that  perfecution, 
and  that  by  a  mob,  legislating,  judging,  and 
punifhing,  in  the  inltant,  is  favourable  to 
truth,  and  confequently  to  virtue  and  hap- 
pinefs.  But  if,  which  is  mofl  to  be  appre- 
hended, this  bufmefs,  which  certainly  was 
evil  in  itfelf,  fliould  lead  to  farther  evil,  it 
will  be  another,  and  I  wifh  it  may  be  the 
laft-,  inftance  of  the  baneful  efFefts  of  into- 
lerance, and  will  alfo  fhow  in  a  ftriking 
light  the  evils  that  arife  from  a  civil  efta- 
blifliment  of  chriftianity.  If  this  be  the 
cafe,  and  the  world  fliould  take  warning  by 
it,  I  Ihall  not  think  our  fufFerings,  great  as 
they  have  been,  a  fubjed  of  lamentation; 
confidering  myfelf,  and  my  fellow-fufferers, 
as  the  inftruders,  and  benefatlors  of  man- 
kind. 

Some  parts  of  this  Appeal,  I  am  well 
aware,  will  expofe  me  to  the  charge  of 
'vanity,  efpecially  the  addreffes  which  I  have 
thought  proper  to  fubjoin  to  it.     But  they 

were 


xxvi  THE    PREFACE, 

were  in  a  great  meafure  neceffary  to  the 
narrative  part  of  the  work,  particularly 
thofe  of  my  late  congregation,  and  that  of 
Leeds,  as  they  will  fhew  that,  notwith- 
ftanding  my  other  purfuits,  I  did  not,  in 
their  opinion,  negle6l  the  proper  duties  of 
my  profeflion.  The  addrefs  from  the  Aca- 
demy of  Sciences  at  Paris,  will  fhow  in  what 
light  the  riots  at  Birmingham  are  confidered 
by  fcientifical  perfons  in  a  neighbouring 
and  highly  enlightened  country;  and  that 
from  Great  Yarmouth,  how  they  are  thought 
of  by  Diffenters  of  different  denominations 
at  home*.  I  may  likewife  add  in  my  juftifi- 
cation,  that  perfecution  and  calumny  more 
than  once  extorted  felf  praife  from  an  apoftle, 

*  As  fome  perfons  may  wifti  to  fee  an  account  of  all 
the  addrefles  I  have  hitherto  received  to  this  time,  Nov.  i, 
1 79 1, 1  fhall  briefly  mention  them  v;ith  their  dates. 

From  the  Academy  of  Sciences  at  Paris,  July  30,  1791. 

From  the  Friends  of  the  Conftitution  at  Lyons,  Auguft  6. 

From  the  Friends  of  the  Conftitution  at  Nantz,  Auguft  9. 

From  the  Friends  of  the  Conftitution  at  Marmande  on 
the  Garonne,  Auguft:  15. 

From  the  Friends  of  the  Conftitution  at  the  Jacobins  Rue 
St.  Honore,  Paris,  Auguft;  16. 

From  the  Friends  of  the  Conftitution  at  Clermont,  Au- 
guft 20. 

From  the  Friends  of  the  Conftitution  at  Touloufe,  Sep- 
tember 21. 

From 


THE    PREFACE.  xxvli 

It  will,  however,  be  a  gratification  to 
my  adverfaries  to  be  informed,  that,  except 

From  the  Minlfters  and  Members  of  the  three  denomi- 
nations of  Proteftant  Diflenters  in  Great  Yarmouth, 
July  29. 

From  the  Minlfters  and  Members  of  the  three  denomina- 
tions of  Proteftant  Diflenters  in  Maidftone,  Auguft  8. 

From  the  Society  of  the  Old  Meeting  in  Birmingham, 
Auguft  21. 

From  the  Proteftant  Diftfentersof  Mill  Hill  Chapel,  Leeds, 
Auguft  24. 

From  the  Committee  of  Proteftant  Diflenting  Laymen  and 
Minifters  of  the  three  denominations  in  the  Weft: 
Riding  of  the  county  of  York,  September  i,  at  their 
quarterlv  meeting. 

From  the  Proteftant  Diflenting  minifters  of  the  three  deno- 
minations at  Llechryd,  South  Wales,  Auguft  25. 

From  the  Philofophical  Society  at  Derby,  September  3. 

From  the  Proteftant  Diflenting  Minifters  of  Exeter,  Sep- 
tember 7,  at  their  half  yearly  meeting. 

From  the  Revolution  Society  at  Norwich,  September  8. 

From  the  Conftitutional  Society  at  Manchefter,  Septem- 
ber 13. 

From  the  Students  at  the  New  College,  Hackney,  Sep- 
tember 21. 

From  the  Proteftant  Diflenters  belonging  to  feveral  con- 
gregations in  the  Southern  and  Weftern  parts  of  the 
county  of  Somerfet,  at  their  annual  meeting,  Septem- 
ber 28. 

From  feveral  Proteftant  Diflenting  minifters  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Bolton,  Lancaftiire. 

From  the  Proteftant  Dift^enters  of  the  cities  of  Briftol  and 
Bath. 

From  the  Revolution  Society  at  London. 


in 


xxviii  THE     PREFACE. 

in  one  inftance,  viz.  the  addrefs  from  the 
Philofophical  Society  at  Derby,  I  have  re- 
ceived no  addrefs  from  any  fet  of  perfons  in 
this  country  who  have  not  profefledly  fepa- 
rated  themfelves  from  the  reft  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  civil  or  religious  liberty.  Indeed, 
I  fear  there  may  be  even  literary  focieties  in 
England,  and  much  more  the  inhabitants 
of  whole  towns,  who,  if  they  formed  any 
refolutions  on  the  fubje6l,  would  make 
them  more  favourable  to  the  rioters,  than 
the  fufferers  at  Birmingham;  fo  general,  in 
my  prefent  opinion,  is  the  fpirit  favourable 
to  church  eftablifliments,  and  thofe  high 
maxims  of  government,  by  which  the  infti- 
gators  of  the  riots  at  Birmingham  were 
actuated.  How  long  this  will  continue  to 
be  the  cafe,  I  do  not  fay. 

Gratitude  requires  that  I  fhould  fay  I 
have  had  very  flattering  profpe61:s  held  out 
to  me  if  I  would  remove  to  France,  where 
both  the  laws,  and  the  fpirit  of  the  people, 
would  be  much  more  favourable  to  me. 
But  there  I  fhould  be  in  a  manner  ufelefs ; 
and  as,  according  to  the  courfe  of  nature, 
I  have  yet  fome  years  of  a6livity  left,  and  I 
can  employ  them  to  the  moft  advantage  in 
this  country,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  fpend 

then> 


THE    PREFACE.  xxix 

them  in  it.  As  to  my  perfonal  fafety,  I 
may  furely  hope  that  the  horrid  fcenes  at 
Birmingham,  which  will  long  make  it  a 
proverb  and  a  bye  word  in  Europe,  will  not 
be  repeated  any  where  elfe.  Or  if  they  be, 
my  life  will  always  be  at  the  difpofal  of 
him  that  gave  it. 

If  I  were  difpofed  to  boaft,  it  will  be, 
like  Paul,  of  my  fufferings ;  and  though 
his  lift,  no  doubt,  far  exceeds  mine,  yet  in 
one  refpe6l  I  think  I  need  not  yield  to  him, 
or  to  any  man  whatever.  I  mean  with  re- 
fpecl  to  calumny^  which  can  hardly  go  deeper, 
or  extend  farther,  than  it  has  done  with  re- 
fpe6t  to  me.  To  fay  nothing  of  old  calum- 
nies, which  are,  however,  now  circulated 
with  as  much  confidence  as  ever,  fuch  as 
my  having  declared  that  I  would  never  reft 
till  I  had  pulled  down  that  impoftor  Jefus 
Chrift;  that  I  made  a  convert  of  Silas  Deane 
to  atheifm,  &c.  &c.  &c.  thoufands  have 
been  made  to  believe  that  I  am  not  only  a 
fpeculative  republican,  and  an  enemy  to  our 
prefent  government  by  king,  lords,  and  com- 
mons, but  an  advocate  for  abfolute  anarchy 
or  government  by  mobs,  without  any  rule  of 
proceeding  whatever;  that  by  mere  mobs 
I  ferioufly  intended  tg  fubvert  the  confti- 

tution 


XXX  THE    PREFACE. 

tution  in  church  and  ftate,  and  that  Mr. 
RufTell  and  myfelf  had  armed  men  in  readi- 
nefs  to  a6t  under  our  orders  for  this  pur- 
pofe,  fo  that  there  could  not  be  a  more 
dangerous  fubje6l  in  any  ftate*. 

*  In  a  Song  entitled  Old  Mother  Church,  defcribing 
the  DiflenterSj  are  the  two  following  ftanzas. 

Sedition   is  their   Creed, 
Feign'd  fheep,  but  wolves  indeed, 

How  can  we  truft? 
Gunpowder  Prieftley  would, 
Deluge  the  throne  with  blood. 
And  lay  the  great  and  good, 

Low  in  the  Duft. 

Hift'ry  thy  page  unfold. 
Did  not  their  fires  of  old, 

Murder  their  king? 
And  they  would  overthrow, 
King,  lords,  and  bifhops  too. 
And  while  they  gave  the  blow, 

Loyally  ling ; 

O  Lord  our  God  arife, 
Scatter  our  enemies 
And  make  them  fall. 
&c.  &c.  &c. 

The  following  paragraph  from  p.  42,  of  an  Addrefs  is 
Unitarians,  by  T.  G.  Hancock  is  fo  curious,  that  I  (hall 
fubjoin  it  to  this  note. 

"  Dr.  Prieftley  at  prefent  feems  a  chaos  in  miniature, 
not  worth  God's  notice,  has  neither  belief  nor  under- 

ftanding 


THE    PREFACE.  xxxi 

With  refpe6l  to  the  fubjedt  of  this  Ap- 
peal, the  populace  of  Birmingham  were 
made  to  believe  that  I  not  only  dined  at  the 
Hotel  on  the  fourteenth  of  July  laft,  but 
declared  that,  if  no  other  perfon  whatever 
would  join  me,  I  would  dine  there  alone. 
At  that  dinner  it  was  confidently  faid,  that 
I  gave  the  toads  No  church,  no  king,  and  The 
king's  head  in  a  charger.  It  was  even  afTerted 
that  I  had  conveyed  gunpowder  into  one  of 
the  churches,  and  had  contrived  that  it  fhould 
explode  during  divine  fervice,  and  fome 
pious  ladies,  I  am  well  informed,  a6lually 
forbore  going  to  churcli  under  the  appre- 
henfion  of  it.  This  report  was  ftrengthened 
by  another,  viz.  that  two  barrels  of  gun- 
powder were  certainly  found  in  my  houfe. 

It  has  been  advanced  with  equal  confi- 
dence, and  as  little  regard  to  truth,  that  no 
party  fpirit  exifted  in  Birmingham  till  my 
preaching  and  writing  introduced  it.  It  was 

(landing  given  him.  For  a  careful  analyfis  proves  his 
fpirit  of  the  order  of  rebelling  angels,  his  principles  frothy 
and  fiery,  like  fixed  and  inflammable  air,  mixed  with  gun- 
powder, his  body  a  terra  damnata,  and  the  whole  com- 
pound a  devil  incarnate.  I  hope  Diflenters  will  be  aware 
of  his  fedu6tion,  and  take  heed  left  they  are  deceived 
through  philofophy." 

no 


xxxli  THE  PREFACE. 

no  wonder,  they  alfo  faid,  that  I  fliould  dif-^ 
cover  this  turbulence  here,  when  I  had 
fhown  the  fame  fpirit  at  Leeds,  and  had 
been  driven  from  that,  and  every  other  place 
where  I  lived,  in  the  fame  manner  as  I  had 
been  from  this.  It  was  even  faid  that  my 
own  congregation  declared  that  I  had  milled 
them,  and  hoped,  that  I  fliould  never  be 
permitted  to  return. 

Nothing  now  remains  but  to  charge  me 
with  a  robbery  or  houfe  breaking;  and  then, 
on  fuch  evidence  as  that  on  which  the  pre- 
ceding and  many  equally  falfe  allegations 
gained  credit,  I  may,  by  a  Warwickpire 
jury\  be  legally  convi6led  and  executed; 
the  principal  people  of  Birmingham  not 
interpofmg  to  procure  me  a  pardon.  If  I 
be  fo  formidable  an  enemy  to  the  church 
and  the  ftate  as  I  have  been  reprefented,  let 
thofe  who  call  themfelves  the  friends  of  the 
church  and  th^  king  invent  their  lies,  and 
forge  their  letters  for  this  purpofe,  and  not 
merely  for  the  burning  of  my  houfe,  my 
library,  and  laboratory.  This  was  like 
fhaving  the  lion's  beard,  which  will  grow 
again,  when  with  the  fame  razor,  and  with 
much  lefs  trouble,  they  might  have  cut  his 
throat. 

are 


THE    PREFACE.  xxxiii 

Let  them,  however,  remember,  if  they 
believe  any  thing  of  the  matter  (for  the 
moft  zealous  friends  of  church  eftablifli- 
ments,  and  the  moil  unrelenting  perfe- 
cutors  of  confcientious  men,  are  not  always 
real  believers  in  chriftianity)  that  there  is 
an  hereafter,  and  other  juries  than  thofe 
of  Worcefterfliire  or  Warwickfliire,  before 
whom  they  mull  foon  appear.  To  this 
judgment  I  appeal,  and  before  it  I  cite 
my  accufers. 

The  reafon  why  I  have  added  StriBurei 
on  the  Pamphlet  intitled  Thoughts  on  the 
LATE  Riots  at  Birmingham,  which  was 
publiflied  after  the  greater  part  of  this  Ap- 
peal was  printed,  was  that,  whether  it  came 
from  any  authority,  as  fome  have  fuppofed, 
or  not,  it  fpeaks  the  genuine  language  of 
the  high  church  party  on  the  fubjecl,  fuch 
as  has  appeared  in  a  lefs  concentrated  ilate 
in  numberlefs  paragraphs  in  the  public 
newfpapers,  and  without  fuch  authentic 
evidence,  what  has  been  faid  of  the  low 
prejudice,  the  malignant  fpirit,  and  abfurd 
reafoning  of  that  party,  would  hardly  be 
credible,  efpecially  to  my  readers  abroad. 
In  any  other  view,  this  work  would  have 
been  unworthy  of  any  notice. 

c  N.  B.  The 


xxxiv  THE    PREFACE. 

N.  B.  The  Narrative  part  of  this  Appeal  is  in 
a  manner  confined  to  what  I  was  witnefs  to  myfelf, 
and  therefore  chiefly  relates  to  myfelf  For  an 
account  of  the  fufFerings  of  others,  I  refer  my 
readers  to  An  Authentic  Account  of  the  Riots  in  Bir- 
mingham j  printed  by  Mr.  Belcher.  And  here  I 
would  obferve,  that  if,  to  the  lofles  that  may  be 
claimed  in  a  court  of  juftice,  be  added  thofe  that 
were  necelTarily  occafioned  by  the  riots,  to  many 
perfons  who  were  driven  from  their  houfes,  obliged 
to  remove  their  goods,  and  purchafe  proteftion, 
&c.  &c.  the  fum  would  be  enormous.  If  the  lofs 
of  peace  of  mind  could  be  eftimated  by  money,  to 
what  would  it  not  amount?  What  then  have  not 
the  pretended  friends  of  the  church  and  the  king 
at  Birmingham  to  anfwer  for  ? 


CONTENTS. 


THE 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


Narrative    -------   2 


Refle5fions     -     -     -     ------45 

SECTION    I. 

Of  the  Power  of  Refentment  to  prevent  Com- 
pajfton      -      -      ,---•--     ib. 

SECTION    II. 

My  coming  to  Birmingham  not  the  Caufe  of  the 
Party  Spirit  in  the  Place      -      -      -     -     50 

SECTION    III. 

Of  DiJJenters  meddling  with  Politics      -      -      52 

SECTION    IV. 

'^he  Bigotry  of  the  High  Church  Party  the  true 
Caufe  of  the  Riots      -      -     -     -     -     -     S9 

SECTION    V. 

Of  the  Pretence  that  Government  was  adverfe 
to  the  Diffenters  and  favoured  the  Rioters    68 

C  2  SECTION 


[     xxxvi     ] 

SECTION    VI. 

Of  the  Principal  Ufe  of  an  efiablifhed  Religion     76 

SECTION    VII. 

Of  the  Importance  of  a  good  Police  in  a  well 
confiimted  State     -------82 

SECTION    VIII. 

'^he  Impolicy  of  checking  the  natural  ExpreJJion 
of  Men's  Sentiments     --,-___     ^o 

SECTION    IX. 

Confiderations  relating  to  Perfecution,  and  the 
Confequences  of  it     -      -      -      ~     -     -     ^^ 

SECTION    X. 

The  Conclufony   containing   Reflections   on  the 
Power  of  Religion  in  general     -     -     -     10^ 


Strictures  on  a  Pamphlet  intitled  '  'Thoughts  on 
the  late  Riot  at  Birmingham^      -     -     -     117 


APPENDIX, 

Copy  of  a  Hand-hill  privately  circulated  in 
Birmingham y  a  few  Days  before  the  Riots  129 

My  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham     130 

Jn 


[     xxxvii     ] 

An  Account  of  the  Origin  of  the  Riots  in  Bir- 
mingham ^  from  a  New/pa-^er  called  The 
Times    ---------     i33 

Mr.  Rujfeirs  Letter  to  the  Editor  of  the 
Morning  Chronicle     ------134 

Mr.  Keir's  Letter  to  the  Printer  of  the  Bir- 
mingham and  Stafford  Chronicle     -     -      138 

Copy  of  a  Letter  to  me,  printed  in  a  Column 
cppojite  to  my  own  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  Birminghaniy  and  thrown  into  many 
Houfes  in  London  with  the  1'itle  of  Self- 
murder,  OR  THE  Doctor  tried  and 

CONVICTED  ON  HIS  OWN  EVIDENCE  I4I 

Copy  of  a  Hand-hill  difirihuted  in  London  the 
Day  after  I  arrived  there     -     -     -     -     14J 

Copies  of  two  Hand-hills  difirihuted  among  the 
Rioters     --------     144 

^he  Addrefs  of  the  High-Bailiff,  Clergy y  ^c, 
to  the  King      -      -      -      -     -     _     -     14$ 

The  Addrefs  of  the  Diffenters  to  the  King     -     ib. 

An  Advertijement  from  the  Committee  of  DiJ- 
Jenters  in  Birmingham    -----     148 

Copy 


[    xxxviii     ] 

Copy  of  a  Letter  addrejfed  to^he  Bijhops,  and 
Members  of  the  Houje  of  Commons     -      149 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  M.  Condor cet.  Secretary 
to  the  Academy  of  Sciences  at  Paris     -     150 

The  Anfwer     --------152 

An  Addrejs  from  the  Members  of  the  New 
Meeting  Congregation     -     -     -     -     -     153 

'I'he  Anfwer     -----      -      -      -      15^ 

From  the  Toung  People  belonging  to  the  Con- 
gregation of  the  New  Meeting     -     -     -     157 

'the  Anfwer    -----      -      -      -      159 

A  fecond  Addrefs  from  the  Members  of  the 
New  Meeting  Congregation      -      -      -      161 

From  the  Toung  People  belonging  to  the  Con- 
gregation of  the  New  Meeting    -     -     -     162 

A  third  Addrefs  from  the  Members  of  the 
New  Meeting  Congregation      -      -      -      166 

I'he  Anfwer     -     -      -      -----167 

A  fourth  Addrefs  from  the  Congregation  of  the 
New  Meeting,  Birmingham     -     -     -     169 

From 


[     xxxix     ] 

From  the  Congregation  of  Mill-Hill  Chapel, 
Leeds      -      --------     171 

From  the  Protejlant  Dijfenters  in  Great  Tar- 
mouth     -      --------     172 

^0  the  Members  of  the  New  Meeting  Congre- 
gation, Birmingham      -      -      -     -     -     173 


ADDENDA. 

An  Account  of  the  Riots,  written  by  a  Member 
of  the  EJiablifhment  to  a  Friend  of  his  near 
Maiajione,  in  Kent     -     -     -     -     -     -     176 

An  Addrejs  from  the  Philofophical  Society  at 

Derby     ---------179 

^he  Anfwer     ---------   1^0 


Errata  et  Corrigenda, 

Preface,  p.  xxxii,  1. 14.,  xt^Afuch  a  Warnuickjbirejury  as  the  lajt 

P.  13,  1.  S>  dele  if  any 

P.  43,  1.23,  v&z<\  fome  perfons 

P.  27,  1.  5,  add,  I  had  alfo  Notts  on  all  the  Pfalms,  r/hich  I 

had  delivered  from  the  pulpit 
P.  47,  I.  15,  for  make,  read  ha've  made 
P.  62,  1.  12,  for  No.  III.  read  No.  V. 
P.  70,  1.  4.,  for  opbiion,  read  opinions 
P.  83,  1.  2,  (t)  for  the,  read  or  the 
P.  84,  1.  8,  after  of  me,  add,  and  that  luithout  any  truth 
P.  96,  1.  12,  read  many  of  them  nuould 
P.  124,  I.  18,  for  to  burn,  'viz.  read  viz,  to  burn 
P.  134,  for  No.  V.  read  No.  IV. 
P.  142,  1.  6,  for  befiringt  read  defiring 

*»*     r^>J  Signifies  from  tlie  bottom  of  the  page. 

N.  B.  The  firft  article  oi  the  Reflections  is  copied  from  the 
Preface  to  the  Letters  to  the  Members  of  the  Ne-iv  Jerufalem 
Church,  which  was  the  firft  of  my  publications  after  the  riots. 
That  work  will  not  fall  into  many  hands,  and  if  ever  it  be  re- 
printed, that  part  of  the  Preface  will  be  omitted. 


AN     APPEAL 


TO 


THE    PUBLICy 


ON  THE  SUBJECT  OF 

THE  LATE  RIOTS  IN  BIRMINGHAM. 


X  HERE  is  no  tranfaftion,  efpecially 
one  of  a  public  nature,  that  will  not  be  viewed  by 
perfons  of  different  difpofitions,  or  placed  in  dif- 
ferent fituations,  in  different  lights  j  and  leaft  of  all 
can  the  diligent  inquirer  expe6t  an  impartial  ac- 
count from  the  perfons  immediately  concerned  in 
it.  All  that  he  can  do  muft  be  to  compare  every 
account  that  he  can  colle61:j  and  then  form  his  own 
judgment.  In  fome  refpefls  one  party,  and  in 
others  another,  will  be  the  beft  qualified  to  give  him 
juft  information,  and  among  the  reft,  in  all  cafes  of 
great  calamity,  he  would  certainly  v;ifh  to  hear  the 
fufferers  themfelves,  and  not  wholly  depend  on  the 
accounts  of  thofe  who  either  inflided  the  fufferings, 

B  or 


2  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

or  who  rejoiced  in  them.  I  hope,  therefore,  it  will 
not  be  thought  improper  in  me,  who  am  a  prin- 
cipal fufferer  by  the  late  riots  in  Birmingham,  to 
give  my  account  of  them,  and  my  ideas  of  their 
caufes  and  probable  confequences.  I  Ihall  endea- 
vour to  be  as  candid  and  impartial  as  I  can,  and 
the  intelligent  reader  will  eafily  perceive  whether  I 
be  fo,  or  not.  I  fhall  divide  the  work  into  two 
parts,  Narrat'ivCi  and  Refle£tions, 


NARRATIVE. 

I  became  an  inhabitant  of  Birmingham  in  the 
year  1780,  without  any  other  view  than  as  a  proper 
iituation  for  attending  to  my  philofophical  purfuits, 
in  which,  having  no  original  fortune  of  my  own,  I 
was  afTifted  by  a  few  liberal  friends  of  fcience,  who 
were  pleafed  to  think  favourably  of  me  in  that  re- 
lpe(5t.  It  was  a  plan  fuggefted  by  the  late  Dr.Fother- 
gill,  and  chearfully  adopted  by  Sir  George  Saville, 
Sir  Stephen  Theodore  Janflen,  Mr.  Conftable  of 
Burton  Conilable,  and  Dr.  Price  j'  all  of  them,  it 
is  fomething  remarkable,  of  different  religious  per- 
fuafions,  but  equally  lovers  of  experimental  philofo- 
phy  and  difinterefted  promoters  of  it.  Before,  and 
lince  their  deaths,  the  fcheme  was  patronized  by 
many  other  generous  friends  of  fcience,  whofe 
names,  as  they  are  ftill  living,  I  forbear  to  mention. 
None  of  them,  I  believe,  have  feen  any  reafon  to 
be  difTatisfied  with  my  condud,  as  their  operator. 


In 


On  the  Riofs  in  Birmingham^  ^ 

In  two  adminiflrations  propofals  were  made 
to  aflift  me  by  a  perifion.  It  was  alleged  thatj, 
fince  my  ftudies  had  been  highly  ufeful  to  the 
public,  and  very  expenfive  to  myfelf,  there  was 
much  more  rcafon  why  I  fliould  receive  this  affift- 
ance  than  almoft  any  other  perfon  who  ever  had 
obtained  it.  But  in  both  the  cafes  I  declined  the 
overture,  chufing  rather  to  be  obliged  to  generous 
individuals,  notwithftanding  feme  unpleafant  cir- 
cumftances  occafionally  attending  this  fituation, 
than  add  to  the  burdens  of  my  country. 

My  original  and  favourite  profelTion,  however, 
was  that  of  a  chriftian  minifter,  in  my  opinion,  the 
moft  important,  ufeful,  and  honourable  of  all  others; 
for  which,  though  difcontinued  fix  years  while  I 
was  tutor  in  the  academy  at  Warrington,  and  (tv^n 
years  while  I  was  with  the  Marquis  of  Lanfdown,  I 
always  had  the  ftrongeft  predileftion,  a,nd  in  which 
I  never  failed  to  officiate  occafionally,  when  I  was 
out  of  the  employment.  But  having  been  led,  in 
the  courfe  of  my  theological  ftudies,  which  1  never 
difcontinued,  to  adopt  opinions  materially  different 
from  thofe  of  the  generality  of  DifTenters,  and  in 
which  I  could  not  expe6t  that  any  confiderable  fo- 
ciety  of  them  would  foon  concur  with  me,  I  had 
no  thought  of  ever  being  employed  except  as  an 
occafional  preacher,  in  affifting  thofe  of  my  friends 
whofe  congregations  might  not  diflike  my  fervices. 

It  was,  therefore,  with  equal  furprize  and  plea- 
fure  that,  on  Mr.  Hawkes's  refignation  of  his  office 

B  2  of 


4  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

of  minifter  at  the  New  Meeting  in  Birnninghamj 
I  had  an  ahnoft  unanimous  invitation  to  fucceed 
him.  This,  however,  I  accepted  on  the  exprefs 
condition  of  the  congregation  having  no  claim  upon 
me  except  on  Sundays ;  the  reft  of  the  week  being 
devoted  to  my  philofophical  and  other  purfuits. 
The  other  duties  of  the  place  were  difcharged  by 
my  worthy  colleague  Mr.  Blythe.  To  my  philo- 
fophical purfuits  I  gave  conftant  attention,  of  which 
the  public  have  feen  the  effe6ls,  and  as  a  minifter  I 
did  nothing  more  than  attend  to  v/hat  appeared  to 
me  to  be  the  faithful  difcharge  of  my  duty,  and  I 
have  reafon  to  think  to  the  fatisfadion  of  my  con- 
gregation. 

Having,  in  every  former  fituation,  been  upon 
terms  of  intimacy  with  fome  or  other  of  the  clergy 
of  the  church  of  England,  men  of  liberal  minds, 
and  lovers  of  fcience,  I  fhould  have  been  happy 
to  have  found  thofe  at  Birmingham  with  whom 
I  could  have  formed  a  fimilar  connexion.  But  the 
fpirit  of  party,  I  faw  with  regret,  ran  higher  there 
than  in  moft  other  places  in  the  kingdom. 

Such  was  the  bigotry  of  the  clergy  of  Birming- 
ham, that  long  before  I  went  thither,  as  well  as 
during  the  whole  time  of  my  refiding  there,  they 
refufed  to  go  into  the  fame  coach  with  the  diflent- 
ing  minifters  at  funerals,  or  to  walk  with  them  in 
the  procefllon.  We  had  hoped  that  they  had  be- 
come afhamed  of  this  abfurd  inftance  of  clerical 
pride,  which  I   had  never  heard  of  before,  and 

hoping 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  5 

hoping  better  things  of  Mr.  Curtis,  who  was  of  a 
diflenting  family,  Mr.  Scholefield,  the  miniiler  of 
the  Old  Meeting,  being  invited  to  a  funeral  at 
which  he  officiated,  fent  to  know  whether  he  might 
be  permitted  to  walk  along  with  him.  The  anfwer 
was  a  civil  but  a  peremptory  refufal,  and  the  pro- 
pofal  was  never  repeated.  When  I  gave  the  late 
Bifhop  of  St.  Afaph  an  account  of  this  behaviour 
of  the  clergy  of  Birmingham,  which  was  long  be- 
fore my  controverfy  with  Mr.  Madan,  he  exprefled 
much  concern  at  it,  and  faid  that  he  thought  fuch 
bigotry  had  now  exifted  no  where. 

That  I  was  not  eager  to  engage  in  any  contro- 
verfy with  the  clergy  of  the  town,  was  evident 
from  my  making  no  reply  whatever  to  two  of  their 
publications  relpe6ling  me,  before  the  appearance 
of  Mr.  Madan's  Sermon.  One  had  the  fignature 
of  Luther,  and  the  other  that  of  M.  S.  The  real 
names  of  the  writers  were  well  known ;  but  I  did 
not  fo  much  as  read  either  of  them.  The  latter 
I  nightly  looked  into  at  a  bookfeller's  fhop;  and 
perceiving  that  it  contained  much  general  and 
virulent  inventive,  1  paid  no  farther  attention  to 
it.  In  order  to  invite  purchafers,  the  profits  of 
this  publication  v/ere  advertifed  to  go  to  the  ufe  of 
the  General  Infirmary.  It  was  re-advertifed  during 
my  controverfy  with  Mr.  Madan.  The  fame  cler- 
gyman was  fuppofed  to  be  the  author  of  one  of 
the  trafts  in  that  controverfy,  and  of  a  virulent 
reply  to  my  late  Letters  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Birming- 
ham,    But  thefe  alfo  were  unnoticed  by  me, 

B3  The 


6  An  Appeal  to  the  Fiiblic 

The  fpirit  of  the  high  church  party  was  con- 
fpicuous  on  the  eftabUfhment  of  Sunday  fchools  in 
Birminghana;  and  this  alfo  was  previous  to  my 
controverfy  with  Mr.  Madan.  At  firft  perfons  of 
all  religious  perfuafions  adled  on  this  occafion  in 
concert,  of  which  an  example  had  been  fet  us  in 
London;  and  at  a  meeting  of  all  the  fubfcribers, 
convened  for  the  purpofe,  it  was  agreed  that  the 
children  fhould  go  to  whatever  places  of  pubhc 
worfhip  their  parents  lliould  chufe.  As  there  were 
no  children  of  Diffenters  who  wanted  that  inftruc- 
tion,  all  the  Sunday  fcholars,  without  exception, 
went  to  the  eflablifhed  church,  and  no  complaint 
was  ever  made  of  this  by  any  Diflenter.  But  the 
high  church  party,  not  being  content  with  this,  at 
a  meeting  of  the  fubfcribers,  the  bufinefs  of  which 
was  not  advertifed,  the  former  rule  was  refcinded, 
and  the  children  were  then  abfolutely  ordered  to 
do  what  they  ever  had  done,  and  always  might  have 
done,  that  is,  attend  the  worlhip  of  the  eftabliflied 
church,  and  no  other. 

The  Diffenters  waited  more  than  a  year,  to  fee 
whether  the  high  church  party  would  revert  to 
their  former  more  liberal  maxims,  and  continued 
their  fubfcripdons.  But  having  waited  fo  long  to 
no  purpofe,  they  opened  their  own  feparate  Sunday 
fchools,  with  advantages,  I  will  venture  to  fay,  far 
fuperior  to  thofe  of  the  eftabliflimient,  but  with 
liberty  to  every  parent  to  order  his  child  to  attend 
whatever  place  of  public  worfhip  he  pleafed.  Still, 
however;,  feveral  of  the  Diffenters  continued  their 

fubfcripdons 


On  the  Riots  in  'Birmingham,  7 

fubfcriptions  to  the  former  Sunday  fchools,  as  well 
as  to  their  own. 

Such  was  the  well  known  bigotry  of  the  town 
in  general,  that  when  Mr.  Newlin,  a  perfon  of  the 
moft  refpe6table  charafter  (who  preceded  Mr. 
Madan  in  the  redlory  of  St.  Philip's)  canne  from 
Shrewsbury  to  Birmingham,  though  he  had  been, 
and  continued  to  be,  upon  the  bell  terms  with  the 
diffenting  minifters  in  the  former  fituation,  he 
found  he  could  have  no  intercourfe  with  them  in 
the  latter  J  and  yet  I  will  venture  to  fay  there  were 
not  in  all  England  three  more  refpedlable,  or  more 
peaceable  diffenting  minifters,  and  men  who  had 
lefs  troubled  the  church  of  England  in  any  way 
whatever,  than  thofe  who  ferved  the  two  congre- 
gations of  the  Old  and  New  Meetings  at  that  time. 
Mr,  Curtis  himfelf,  the  Redlor  of  St.  Martin's,  on 
his  firft  coming  to  Birmingham,  had  the  liberality 
to  come  and  hear  me  preach  a  faft  fermon  at  the 
Old  Meeting,  and  brought  his  curate  along  with 
him.  He  even  expreffed  himfelf  much  pleafed 
with  the  fervice.  But  afterwards,  I  fuppofe,  he 
perceived  the  true  fpirit  of  the  place,  and  the  ne-- 
ceffity  of  conforming  to  it. 

For  a  true  reprefentation  of  thefe  fafts  I 
appeal  to  the  town  at  large.  With  what  truth, 
then,  can  it  be  faid,  as  is  now  confidently  done, 
that  my  coming  to  Birmingham,  and  my  con> 
du6t  there,  was  the  fole  caufe  of  the  animofity 

B  4  between 


8  An  Appeal  to  the  Tiiblic 

between  the  church  people  and  the  Diffenters  of 
that  place  ?* 

Wilhing  to  difcover  the  caufe  of  this  excelTivc 
party  fpirit,  and  to  apply,  if  I  Ihould  be  able, 
fome  remedy  to  it,  I  found  the  Diffenters  were  in 
pofTelTion  of  all  the  civil  power  in  the  place,  by 
having  the  nomination  to  all  the  ojflicesj  and 
though  they  conftantly  gave  the  principal  office, 
viz.  that  oiHigh  Bailiffs  to  a  member  of  the  church 
of  England,  they  chofe  to  retain  the  power  of 
nominating,  of  which  they  had  long  been  in  pof- 
feflion.  This  power,  though  I  never  heard  of 
there  being  any  complaint  with  refpedl  to  the 
exercife  of  it)  I  took  much  pains,  from  the  be- 
ginning of  my  refidence  in  Birmingham,  to  per- 
fuade  the  Diffenters  to  relinquifhj  and  I  gradually 
brought  over  to  my  opinion  fome  of  the  principal 

*  A  Letter  lately  addreffed  to  me  and  Mr.  Ruffell  has  thefe  words ; 
"  It  is  notorious  that  the  town  of  Birmingham  had  enjoyed  an  uninter- 
*'  rupted  fcene  of  peace  and  happinefs  for  more  than  fifty  years. 
*'  Every  thing  in  it  moved  in  perfe£l  order  and  harmony,  till  you, 
*'  like  a  noxious  planet,  approached  towards  it." 

A  Poem  written  fmce  the  riots,  in  which  I  am  reprefented  as  an 
enemy  to  God,  and  the  government  under  which  I  live,  concludes  as 
follows  :— 

Pure  was  the  breeze  that  fans  this  "  Seat  of  Arts," 
'Ere  tainted  by  thy  breath  :   in  every  ftreet 
The  voice  of  labour  fung  away  its  cares ; 
The  Church  and  Se6laries  harmonious  breath'd 
The  genuine  fpirit  of  fraternal  love  : 
But  when  thy  puritanicyco^u/  appeared, 
The  heav'ns  grew  dark,  and  thy  familiar  fiend 
Flam'd  in  the  pulpit,  thunder'd  from  the  prefs, 
'Till  all  was  uproar,  and  juft  vengeance  hurl'd 
Sedition's  Temples  fmoking  to  the  ground. 

could 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  9 

of  them.  The  objeftion  to  my  propofal  was  that, 
fuch  was  the  fpirit  of  party,  that  without  this 
power  every  burdenfome  office  would  be  thrown 
upon  the  DilTenters.  I  always  replied  that  I  would 
willingly  rifk  that  j  thinking  that  no  fet  of  men 
could  make  fo  ungenerous  a  return  for  fuch  gene- 
rous condu6t;  but  that  I  would  even  bear  every 
kind  of  ill  ufage,  rather  than  that  things  fhould 
continue  as  they  were. 

I  fpake  both  to  quakers,  and  to  fome  of  the 
more  moderate  members  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land on  the  fubjeft ;  and  though  one  of  the  latter 
told  me  that  he  knew  the  temper  of  the  people  of 
Birmingham  better  than  I  did,  and  that  he  be- 
lieved no  good  would  come  of  the  meafure,  I  per- 
fifted,  as  is  well  known,  in  my  firfl:  opinion ;  and 
no  objeftion  was  ever  made  to  it  by  the  Diflenters 
from  any  diflike  of  the  meafure  itfelf,  but  only 
from  the  apprehenfion  of  the  ungenerous  ufe  that 
might  be  made  of  it. 

There  are  two  annual  dinners  given  by  the  Low 
Bailiff,  who  has  long  been  a  Diflenter,  and  who  has 
the  nomination  of  that  Jury,  which  appoints  to  all 
the  offices  in  the  town,  and  alfo  the  Low  Bailiff  for 
the  enfuing  year.  Having,  from  the  habits  of  a 
ftudious  life,  a  diflike  of  all  public  entertainments, 
I  never  attended  more  than  one  of  thefe  feafts,  the 
firfl  after  my  arrival ;  but  I  frequently  faid  that  I 
would  with  pleafure  attend  the  firft  dinner  of  the 
kind  that  Ihould  be  given  by  a  member  of  the 

church 


lo  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

church  of  England.  This  conduft  of  mine,  of 
which  I  can  produce  abundant  evidence,  did  not, 
furely,  favour  of  much  bigotry. 

Till  the  application  to  parliament  for  the  repeal 
of  the  Teft  A6t,  I  neither  wrote,  nor  preached, 
any  thing  that  had  any  particular  relation  to  the 
principles  of  DiiTenters,  and  I  fent  my  fons  to 
the  public  grammar  fchool,  which  is  conduced 
wholly  by  clergymen,  and  the  head  mafter  of 
which,  a  man  of  candour,  as  well  as  an  excellent 
claffical  fcholar,  occafionaliy  vifited  me. 

When  Mr.  Burn  came  to  Birmingham,  hav- 
ing met  him  at  a  committee  of  the  public  li- 
brary, I  thought  I  perceived  in  him  great  marks 
of  liberality,  and  on  my  invitation,  he  paid  me  two 
vifits.  In  Mr.  Madan,  whom  I  met  at  a  com- 
mittee for  abolifhing  the  Slave  Trade,  and  who 
was  particularly  civil  to  me  there,  I  flattered  my- 
felf  I  had  found  a  clergyman  entirely  to  my  mind, 
and  one  with  whom  I  might  form  a  pleafing 
acquaintance.  This  I  mentioned  to  a  particular 
friend,  requeuing  that  he  would  endeavour  to 
bring  it  about,  as  he  is  ready  to  witnefs  if  called 
upon.  This,  furely,  did  not  favour  of  bigotry.  In- 
deed, I  have  ever  lived,  and  now  live,  in  confider- 
able  intimacy  with  perfons  of  every  religious  per- 
fuafion  in  this  country,  the  members  of  the  church 
of  England  not  excepted,  though  not  thofe  refiding 
in  Birmingham.  The  greateit  difierence  of  opi- 
nion never  led  me  to  keep  aloof  from  any  man. 

Before 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  1 1 

Before  I  left  Birmingham  I  was  happy  to  have 
begun  feme  pleafing  intcrcourfe  with  Dr.  Parr, 
who  had  lately  come  to  refide  near  Warwick.  We 
had  vifited  each  other,  and  I  am  confident  that 
the  continuance  of  the  intercourfe  would  have 
been  a  pleafing  circumftance  to  us  both,  though 
our  religious  principles  are  very  different,  and  he 
was  an  avowed  oppofer  of  the  repeal  of  the  Teft 
A(5t.  When  he  dined  with  me,  he  was  purpofely 
met  by  Mr.  Berington,  a  catholic  priefl,  and  Mr. 
Galton,  a  quaker.  Mr.  Porfon  was  alfo  of  the 
party.  I  have  a  peculiar  pleafure  in  the  fociety  of 
perfons  of  different  perfuafions,  and  more  inftances 
of  this  are  given  in  the  Preface  to  my  Letters  to 
Mr.  Burn,  now  publifhed  together  with  my  Fami- 
liar Letters  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham.  Dr. 
Parr,  however,  gave  great  offence  to  the  clergy, 
and  the  high  church  party  in  Birmingham,  by  in- 
troducing fome  praife  of  me  into  a  fermon  of  his, 
preached  at  the  new  church  before  our  acquaint- 
ance commenced. 

The  firft  difference  that  I  had  with  any  of  the 
clergy  in  Birmingham,  arofe  from  four  of  them 
withdrawing  from  our  public  library  becaufe  my 
Hijlory  of  the  Corruptions  of  Chrijiianity  had  been 
voted  into  it;  a  meafure  to  which,  it  is  well 
known,  that  I  gave  no  countenance,  but  had  al- 
ways oppofed,  on  the  idea  that  it  would  be  better 
to  omit  purchafing  any  books  of  controverfy,  till 
the  library  fhould  be  better  ftocked  with  books  of 
other  kinds,  and  more  generally  interefting.  Find- 
ing, 


12  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

ing,  however,  the  funds  of  the  library  fufRcIently 
ample,  and  a  difpofition  in  many  perfons,  members 
of  the  eflablifhment,  as  well  as  DilTenters,  to  read 
on  thefe,  as  well  as  on  other  fubjefts,  without  the 
obligation  of  purchafing  the  books  for  themfelves, 
I  at  length  concurred  with  them;  but  on  the 
exprefs  condition  that  in  every  interefting  contro- 
verfy,  books  on  both  fides  Ihould  be  equally  pur- 
chafed;  and  I  myfelf  generally  recommended  fuch 
as  were  againft  my  opinions.  At  length,  however, 
the  party  oppofed  to  me  gained  the  afcendancy, 
which  they  ftill  keep,  in  the  conduft  of  the  library, 
which  was  wholly  new  modelled  by  myfelf;  and  in 
this  I  quietly  acquiefced,  and  withdrew  from  the 
committee,  though  I  continued  a  member  of  the 
fociety.  I  appeal  to  my  townfmen  whether  my 
whole  condu6t  in  this  bufinefs  was  not  uniformly 
open  and  generous.  It  had,  however,  an  unfa- 
vourable effeft  in  increafing  the  animofity  againft 
the  Diffenters,  who  in  this  were  joined  by  the 
more  moderate  churchmen. 

But  the  great  increafe  of  party  fplrit  in  the 
town,  and  what,  to  all  appearance,  contributed 
moft  to  the  fatal  cataftrophe,  the  caufe  of  which 
we  are  now  inveftigating,  arofe  from  the  applica- 
tion of  the  Diffenters  for  the  repeal  of  the  Corpo- 
ration and  Teft  A6ts,  the  nature  and  tendency  of 
which  were  ftrangely  mifapprehended  by  the  great 
body  of  the  clergy,  and  other  zealous  members  of 
the  church  of  England.  For  had  the  repeal  taken 
place,  without  their  oppofition,  and  with  the  con- 
currence 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  13 

ciirrence  of  the  court,  no  difference  whatever  would 
have  been  perceived  in  our  condition,  and  our  in- 
t-ereft  as  a  diffenting  body  would  probably  have 
fuffered  by  it,  as  indeed  many  of  us  were  well 
aware. 

As  the  cafe  now  is,  few,  if  any,  Diffenters 
are,  in  fa6l,  excluded  from  any  civil  office  which 
they  wilh  to  ferve,  fo  that  the  repeal  would  only 
have  removed  a  mode  of  admifTion  to  them, 
highly  difgraceful  to  religion  in  general,  pecu- 
liar to  this  country,  and  which  was  not  origi- 
nally intended  to  affedt  Diffenters,  many  of  whom 
were  at  that  time  in  the  habit  of  communicating 
with  the  church  of  England,  though  the  pra6tice 
has  become  lefs  frequent  fince.  And  whatever  tends 
to  mix  us  with  the  world  at  large,  is  well  known 
to  lead  us  to  think,  and  to  aft,  as  the  world  does, 
and  confequently  to  leflen  our  zeal  as  Diffenters, 
and  bring  us  to  conformity  with  the  eftabliihed 
church. 

On  this  principle  great  numbers  of  the  moft 
intelligent  Diffenters  were  from  the  firft  more  than 
indifferent  to  the  meafure,  and  fincerely  wilhed 
that  we  might  remain  as  we  were  in  that  relpedt; 
and  I  believe  it  was  as  much  a  regard  to  the  ho- 
nour of  the  nation,  and  of  chriftianity,  as  for  any 
pofitive  advantage  to  themfelves,  that  any  Dif- 
fenters concerned  themfelves  about  it.  The  effedb 
has  fhewn  the  truth  of  thefe  apprehenfions.  The 
number  of  Diffenters  had  been  evidently  diminiih- 

ing 


14  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

ing  before  the  late  application,  and  they  are 
greatly  increafed  fince,  both  in  Birmingham  and 
in  many  other  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

Alfo  religion  in  general,  with  the  peculiar  tenets 
of  it,  having  by  this  means  been  brought  into  no- 
tice, and  more  public  difcuITion,  the  increafe  of 
unitarians,  whofe  fentiments  are  the  moft  oppofite 
to  thofe  of  the  church  of  England,  has  been  in 
much  more  than  a  ten  fold  proportion.  Thefe 
converts  to  unitarianifm  confift  chiefly  of  the  mid- 
dle, and  fome  of  the  higher  rank  of  perfons,  men 
who  are  known  to  read,  and  to  think  for  them- 
felves,  and  who  of  courfe  have  influence  with 
others  J  fo  that  there  is  now  a  moral  certainty  of 
this  doftrine  continuing  to  prevail  in  this  and 
other  countries. 

Before  the  late  applications  to  Parliament,  and 
the  violent  oppofition  which  the  clergy  made  to 
them,  the  different  claflTes  of  Diflenters  were  hoflile 
to,  and  had  httle  communication  with,  each  other. 
But  the  oppofltion  then  made  to  their  claims, 
(claims  which  we  think  to  be  founded  in  natural 
jufl:ice,  on  the  clear  principle  that  all  who  contri- 
bute to  defray  the  expences  of  government  fhould 
have  equal  accefs  to  its  honours  and  emoluments, 
whatever  be  their  religious  faith)  has  brought  us 
to  feel  a  common  intereft,  and  has  united  us 
as  one  body,  from  one  end  of  the  kingdom  to 
the  other  j  fo  that  we  can  aft  in  concert,  as  we 
are   now   in  the   habit    of  doing.      This  happy 

union 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  1 5 

union  ftrengthens  every  day,  and  in  confequence 
of  it  religious  bigotry  in  general  is  much  de- 
creafed  among  us.  We  now  attend  more  to 
the  great  things  in  which  we  all  agree,  and  lefs 
to  thofe  with  refped:  to  which  we  differ  from 
each  other.  On  thefe  accounts  the  ftrength  of 
the  Diffenters,  has  been  greatly  increafed  by  the 
clerical  oppofition  to  our  claims.  So  wretched  has 
been  the  policy  of  our  enemies,  apprehending 
danger  where  there  v/as  even  lefs  than  none,  and 
having  no  apprehenfion  at  all  of  what  is  real. 

In  this  bufinefs,  however,  whether  there  be 
merit  or  demerit  in  it,  I  had  nothing  to  do.  I 
did  not  fo  much  as  hear  of  the  intention  of  apply- 
ing to  Parliament  for  the  repeal  of  the  Tefc  and 
Corporation  A(5ls  till  it  was  determined  upon  by 
the  Diffenters  in  London. 

Had  I  been  confulted,  I  fhould  rather  have 
advifed  an  application  for  the  repeal  of  that  Aft 
of  King  WilHam  which  makes  it  eventually  confif- 
cation  of  goods,  and  imprifonment  for  life,  to  deny 
the  do6lrine  of  the  trinity.  This  is  a  cafe  of 
fimple  toleration,  as  we  fliould  only  have  defired 
exemption  from  pofitive  punifliment,  for  main- 
taining opinions  which  we  deem  important,  con- 
trary to  thofe  of  the  ftate,  and  we  fliould  have 
had  the  better  plea,  as  it  is  the  great,  though  vain 
boaft  of  this  country,  that  here  toleration  is  com- 
plete^  whereas  for  thefe  twenty  years  laft  pafl,  I 
have  walked  at  large  only  by  the  connivance  of 

my 
2 


1 6  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

my  neighbours,  and  my  opponents  have  not 
omitted  to  hold  out  to  me  the  terror  of  this  law 
which  hangs  over  my  head. 

They  v/ho,  in  their  fpeeches  in  Parliament, 
quoted  my  writings,  as  an  authority  with  the  Dif- 
fenters  in  general,  were  as  ignorant  of  the  Dif- 
fenters,  as  they  were  of  the  maxims  of  found  policy. 
If  I  had  had  any  weight  with  the  body  of  Diflenters 
at  that  time,  we  fhould  have  joined  the  Catholics, 
who  generoufly  made  the  propofal,  in  applying  for 
the  repeal  of  all  the  penal  laws  in  matters  of  reli- 
gion. But  that  golden  opportunity  was  fuffered 
to  pafs  by,  and  I  fear  will  never  more  return. 

When  the  meafure  of  applying  for  the  repeal 
of  the  A6ts  above-mentioned  (which  aflfeft  the 
laity  much  more  than  minifters)  was  taken,  I 
could  not  help  wifhing  well  to  it  j  but  well  know- 
ing my  unpopularity  even  among  the  Diflenters 
(which  till  of  lare  was  much  greater  than  with  the 
members  of  the  eftablilhed  church)  I  took  no 
adtive  part  in  promoting  it,  and  what  I  did  was 
altogether  accidental. 

Being  in  London  at  the  time  of  the  firft  debate 
on  the  fubje6t,  I  heard  Mr.  Pitt  (whom,  juflly  or 
unjuflly,  we  had  been  led  to  confider  as  friendly  to 
our  caufe)  fpeak  againft  it;  and  perceiving,  as  I 
thought,  his  total  mifapprehenfion  of  the  fubjedV, 
I  addrefled  a  Letter  to  him  relating  to  the  fituation 
of  Diflenters,  and  on  other  collateral  fubjefts,  efpe- 

cially 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmi?tgham.  17 

cially  the  ftate  of  the  eftablilhed  church,  both  here 
and  in  Ireland.  This  Letter  gave  great  offence. 
But  I  appeal  to  the  impartial  public,  whether, 
though  written  with  fome  degree  of  indignation,  at 
recent,  and  as  we  thought,  unjuft  treatment,  there  be 
any  thing  in  it  unbecoming  men  and  Englifhmen, 
unjuftly  and  ignominioufly  treated.  This  Letter 
was  written,  and  publifhed,  while  I  was  in  London, 
and  therefore  had  no  particular  reference  to  Bir- 
mingham.    What  I  did  there  was  as  follows. 

It  being  ufual  on  the  5th  of  November  to  give 
our  congregations  a  difcourfe  on  fome  fubjeft  relat- 
ing to  religious  liberty,  I  made  choice  of  that  of  the 
Teft  Ad,  and  at  the  requeft  of  my  hearers  the  dif- 
courfe was  publifhed.  But  I  will  venture  to  fay  that 
it  is  one  of  the  calmeft,  and  moft  moderate,  of  all 
difcourfes  that  was  ever  written  on  a  political  fubjed:. 

What,  now,  was  the  conduft  of  the  clergy 
throughout  England,  and  efpecially  at  Birmingham, 
on  this  occafion  ?  Endeavours  were  ufed  to  render 
the  DilTenters  the  objefts  not  only  of  exclufion 
from  civil  offices,  but  of  general  odium  and  pu- 
nifliment.  Dr.  Croft\  Sermon^  and  that  of  Mr. 
Madan,  both  delivered  at  Birmingham,  are  extant, 
and  the  fpirit  of  them  was  the  fame  with  that  of 
hundreds,  I  may  fay  thoufands,  that  were  echoed 
from  other  pulpits,  charging  the  Dilfenters,  in  op- 
pofition  to  all  hiftory,  and  even  to  recent  and  exift- 
ing  fadls,  with  principles  inimical  to  the  govern- 
ment of  the  country,  and  to  the  prince  upon  the 

C  throne  j 


1 8  A?i  Appeal  to  the  Public 

throne;  as  pure  republicans  in  their  hearts,  and 
who  would  fcruple  no  means  to  overturn  not  the 
church  only,  but  alfo  the  ftate. 

Dr.  Price  and  myfelf  were  particularly  pointed 
out  as  feditious  and  dangerous  perfons,  the  very 
pefts  of  fociety,  and  unworthy  the  prote6tion  of 
government.  Such  language  as  this  is  even  held 
to  this  day,  and  in  fpite  of  the  moil  explicit  denial 
of  what  is  thus  laid  to  our  charge,  and  of  every 
poflible  fpecies  of  evidence  to  the  contrary,  includ- 
ing the  conftant  language  of  our  ferious  writings, 
will,  to  all  appearance,  long  continue  to  be  held. 

Being  particularly  pointed  at  by  Mr.  Madan, 
and  both  friends  and  enemies  looking  upon  me  as 
called  upon  to  make  fome  reply  j  I  did  it  with 
great  reludbance,  as  to  a  clergyman,  whom,  on 
other  accounts,  I  truly  refpefted,  and  whom,  as 
living  in  the  fame  town  with  me,  1  might  occa- 
fionally  meet;  to  fay  nothing  of  the  farther  ac- 
quaintance which  I  had  once  flattered  myfelf  I 
might  make  with  him.  This  reply  I  made  in  a 
feries  of  Familiar  Letters  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Bir- 
mingham, and  I  appeal  to  any  perfon  who  has  the 
leaft  pretention  to  impartiality,  whether  they  be 
not  a  mild  and  good-humoured  reply  to  an  unpro- 
voked inventive. 

I  there  fhowed  that  the  DifTenters  were,  and 
always  had  been,  the  befl;  friends  to  the  prefent 
government,  that  I  had  myfelf  written  much  in 

defence 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmifigham.  19 

defence  and  praife  of  it ;  and  though,  being  a  Dif- 
fenter,  I,  of  courfe,  could  be  no  friend  to  the  efta- 
blilhed  church,  with  refpe6t  either  to  dodrine  or 
difcipHne,  I  allowed  others  to  judge  and  ad,  as  I 
did,  for  themfelves,  and  that  I  wifhed  for  no  al- 
terations but  fuch  as  fhould  have  the  general  con- 
currence of  the  country,  and  thofe  nnade  in  fuch  a 
manner,  as  that  no  perfon  living  fliould  be  injured 
by  them.  This  has  been  my  conftant  language  on 
the  fubje<5t  of  reformation  in  church  or  ftate.  Mr. 
Madan  replied  without  retracing  any  part  of  his 
charge.  But  notwithftanding  this,  1  continued, 
and  concluded,  my  Letters  with  the  fame  good- 
humour  with  which  I  began  them. 

Thefe  Letters  were  much  read  both  in  Bir- 
mingham and  the  neighbourhood,  and  indeed 
throughout  England.  But  though  they  convinced 
many  perfons  that  the  Difienters  had  been  ill  ufed, 
and  that  we  had  much  more  to  fay  for  ourfelves 
than  they  had  imagined,  they  were  far  from  con- 
ciliating the  clergy,  or  the  more  violent  fticklers 
for  the  eftablifhed  church. 

Other  attempts,  and  fome  of  them  of  a  very 
infamous  kind,  were  made  to  render  my  charadler 
odious.  Old  calumnies  were  revived,  and  new 
ones  invented,  concerning  my  being  an  enemy  to 
Chriftianity,  and  to  religion  in  general ;  and  a  cler- 
gyman (as  there  is  every  reafon  to  think)  publifhed 
an  account  of  my  having  converted  Mr.  Silas 
Deane  to  atheifm,  and  his  confeflion  of  it  upon  his 

C  2  death-bed. 


20  An  Addrefs  to  the  Public 

death-bed.  This  was  reprefented  in  public  prints, 
and  the  pamphlet  containing  the  account  was  in- 
duftrioufly  circulated  by  fome  of  the  clergy  in 
Birmingham  and  its  neighbourhood.  At  firfb  I 
neglefted  the  idle  ftory,  as  fufficiently  contradided 
by  my  writings  and  my  whole  condu6t.  After- 
wards, however,  at  the  inltance  of  my  friends,  I 
publifhed  the  cleareft  refutation  of  it.  But  even 
this  did  not  appear  to  make  any  favourable  impref- 
fion  on  my  enemies  in  Birmingham.  The  offence 
given  by  my  Familiar  Letters  was  never  forgiven. 

Mr.  Burn  alfo  publiflied  a  fet  of  Letters  to  me, 
in  which  he  charged  me  with  rejeding  the  tefti- 
mony  of  the  Apoftles  concerning  the  perfon  of 
Chrift ;  and  though  I  denied  the  charge,  and 
fhewed  the  abfurdity  of  it,  he  replied  withour  re- 
tracing it.  In  the  'Preface  to  my  Letters  to  Mr, 
Burtty  I  gave  my  opinion  with  great  freedom  con- 
cerning the  ftate  of  the  Diffenters,  and  the  clergy 
of  the  eftablifhed  church,  warning  them  of  the  " 
violence  and  folly  of  their  conduft,  and  the  pro- 
bable confequences  of  it.  But  the  ufe  they  made 
of  this  Preface  was  to  print  Extra^s  from  it,  fo  cur- 
tailed and  arranged,  as  to  reprefent  me  as  a  mover 
of  fedition,  and  a  dangerous  member  of  fociety. 
This  printed  paper  was  fent  to  the  bifhops,  and  to 
all  the  members  of  the  houfe  of  Commons  the  day 
before  the  iaft  debate  on  the  fubjeft  of  the  Teft 
and  Corporation  A6bs,  fo  that  it  was  impoffible  to 
countera<5t  the  effeds  of  itj  and  being  put  into 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Burke,  and  declaimed  upon  by 

him^ 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  2 1 

him,  was  of  material  diiTervice  to  our  caufe.  I 
fhewed  the  unfairnefs  of  this  proceeding  in  a  printed 
letter  fent  to  the  bifhops,  and  all  the  members  of 
the  houfe  of  Commons,  as  theirs  had  been.  But 
to  all  appearance,  this  complete  juftification  only- 
tended  to  exafperate  my  enemies,  and  they  fpared 
no  pains  to  exafperate  others. 

The  effe6t  of  this  controverfy  upon  the  com- 
mon people  in  Birmingham,  who  were  made  to 
believe  that,  fome  way  or  other,  both  the  church 
and  the  Hate  were  in  danger,  and  that  my  ob- 
ject was  the  utter  deftru6lion  of  both,  was  great 
and  vifible  enough.  On  the  walls  of  houfes,  &c. 
and  efpecially  where  I  ufually  went,  were  to 
be  (Qtn.  in  large  charafters,  Madan  for  ever. 
Damn  Priestley,  No  Presbyterians,  Damn 
THE  Presbyterians,  &c.  &c.  At  one  time  I  was 
followed  by  a  number  of  boys,  who  left  their  play, 
repeating  what  they  had  feen  on  the  walls,  and 
fhouting  out.  Damn  Priefiley^  damn  him^  damn  him 
for  ever,  for  ever,  for  ever,  bcc.  &c.  This  was,  no 
doubt,  a  leffon  which  they  had  been  taught  by 
their  parents,  and  what  thefe,  I  fear,  had  learned 
from  their  fuperiors.  Such  things  as  thefe  were 
certainly  unpleafant  to  me;  but  I  was  confcious  I 
had  done  nothing  to  deferve  fuch  treatment;  and 
defpifing  mere  ohloquji  I  was  far  from  fufpeding 
that  it  would  ever  lead  to  the  outrages  which  have 
fince  taken  place. 

C  .^  In 


22  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

In  the  exultation  of  the  high  church  party  on 
the  defeat  of  our  laft  appHcation  to  Parliament, 
perfonal  clanger  was  apprehended  to  myfeif,  by 
fome  of  my  more  zealous  friends;  and  a  number  of 
young  men  of  my  congregation  came  to  tell  me, 
that  myfeif  and  my  houfe  were  threatened,  but 
that  if  I  chofe  it,  they  would  undertake  to  defend 
both  me,  and  it,  at  the  rifk  of  their  lives.  I  re- 
plied that  I  did  not  apprehend  any  danger,  and 
that  if  any  violence  was  offered  to  me  on  that 
account,  I  fhould  make  no  refiftance.  It  has  al- 
ways been  my  maxim,  as  may  be  feen  in  my 
writings,  and  what  I  have  always  maintained  in 
converfation,  that  it  becomes  chriftians  to  bear 
every  kind  of  infult  and  violence  when  it  is  offered 
on  the  account  of  religion^  and  that  nothing  but 
our  civil  rights  are  to  be  defended  by  the  fword. 

I  took  no  notice  of  any  of  the  particulars 
above-mentioned;  and  though  I  was  told  that  fome 
of  the  clergv  of  the  town  and  neighbourhood  were 
frequently  preaching  againft  the  Diffenters,  and 
often  againft  myfeif  by  name,  or  by  defcription, 
I  never  preached  a  fingle  fermon  on  the  fubje6l, 
or  wrote  any  thing  more  than  the  pieces  above- 
mentioned,  which  are  before  the  public,  and  may 
be  examined  at  the  reader's  leifure,  till  the  appear- 
ance of  Mr.  Burke's  Reflexions  on  the  French  Revo- 
hitiony  a  work  that  has  been  more  generally  read 
than  any  pubhcation  in  my  time,  and  which  has 
contributed  more  than  any  other  to  excite  a  fpirit 

of 


On  the  Riots  i?t  Birmingham,  23 

of  party ;  the  clergy  almofl:  univerfally  approving 
it,  and  the  low  church  party  and  DifTenters  as  ge- 
nerally condemning  it. 

My  friends  well  know  that  I  was  far  from 
having  any  intention  of  aninnadverting  upon  this 
performance,  being  at  that  time  engaged  in  other 
purfuits,  and  having  a  real  refpe6t  for  the  writer, 
till  I  was  prefled  to  undertake  it  by  feveral  of  my 
friends,  who  were  pleafed  to  think  me  better  qua- 
lified than  mofl  others  to  reply  to  what  Mr. 
Burke  had  advanced  on  the  fubjeft  of  Civil  EJla- 
hlijhments  of  Chrijiianity.  At  their  folicitation  I 
wrote  my  Letters  to  Mr.  Burke,  and  this  publica- 
tion, though  a  very  temperate  one,  provoked  the 
clergy,  and  the  zealous  friends  of  the  eftablifhment 
ftill  more  j  and  in  confequence  of  this,  their  efforts 
to  inflame  the  minds  of  the  populace  againfl:  the 
DifTenters  in  general,  and  myfelf  in  particular,  were 
redoubled,  and  the  profane  habit  of  drinking  Dam- 
nation and  confufion  to  the  PreJbyterianSy  at  the 
convivial  meetings  of  perfons  of  better  fafhion, 
as  well  as  thofe  of  the  lower  order,  was  much 
increafed. 

So  apparent  were  the  marks  of  extreme  bigotry, 
and  the  true  fpirit  of  perfecution  at  this  time,  that 
upon  occafion  of  preaching  the  Hackney  College  Ser- 
mon, in  April  laft  (and  which  my  friends  know  that 
I  long  declined)  I  was  led  to  fay,  "  In  another 
"  refpeft,  alfo,  we  are  now  in  the  fituation  of  the 
*'  primitive  chriftians  -,  as  the  friends  of  reformation 
C  4  *'have 


24  All  Appeal  to  the  Public 

"  have  nothing  to  expeft  from  power,  or  general 
"favour-,  but  muft  look  for  every  fpecies  of  abufe 
"  and  perfecution  that  the  fpirit  of  the  times  will 
"  admit  of.  If  even  burning  alive  was  a  fight  that 
"  the  country  would  now  bear,  there  exifts  a  fpirit 
"  which  would  inflid  that  horrid  punifhment,  and 
"  with  as  much  cool  indifference,  or  favage  ex- 
"  ultation,  as  in  any  preceding  age  of  the  world." 
But  though  I  faw  this,  and  that  the  marks  of 
this  fpirit  were  apparent  in  various  other  parts  of 
England,  I  had  no  fufpicion  of  its  breaking  out  on 
the  innocent  occafion  of  celebrating  the  French 
Revolution,  and  therefore  was  far  from  being  pre- 
pared for  any  fuch  outrage. 

The  celebration  of  this  great  event  by  a  pubHc 
dinner  at  Birmingham  was  no  meafure  of  mine.  In- 
deed, I  am  well  known  to  all  my  friends  to  be  averfe 
to  public  entertainments,  and  never  enjoy  myfelf  at 
them ;  my  habits  of  life,  too  long  confirmed  to  be 
eafily  altered,  being  quite  oppofite  to  every  thing 
of  this  nature.  However,  when  the  friends  of  that 
Revolution  propofed  it,  and  willied  to  have  my 
company,  I  did  not  decline  their  invitation,  and  we 
had  a  meeting  or  two,  partly  for  that  purpofe,  and 
partly  to  fettle  the  rules  of  a  Constitutional 
Society,  fuch  as  that  which  is  eftablilhed  at  Man- 
chefter,  the  chief  obje6t  of  which  was  to  promote 
a  more  equal  reprefentation  of  the  people  of  this 
country  in  Parliament,  and  we  had  printed  two 
copies  oi  general  principles  of  government,  to  be  fub- 
fcribed  by  all  the  members,  and  one  copy  of  par- 

"  ticular 


On  the  Riots  at  Birmingham.  25 
tlcular  rules  for  our  condu6t,  copied  chiefly  from 
thofe  of  Manchefler;  but  we  had  not  pleafed 
ourfelves  with  them,  and  nothing  was  abfolutely 
fettled. 

Many  perfons  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
but  more  efpecially  at  Birmingham,  thought  the  ce- 
lebration of  the  French  Revolution  to  be  a  right  and 
a  wife  meafure,  in  order  to  conciliate  the  French 
nation,  and  to  promote  a  friendly  and  commercial 
intercourfe  with  it.  It  is  well  known  that  the  late 
commercial  treaty  is  not  popular  in  France,  and  it 
was  thought  to  be  impolitic  to  heighten  the  dif- 
like  of  that  nation  to  this^  by  refufing  to  partake 
of  their  joy,  in  what  was  known  to  give  them  the 
greateft  fatisfadlion. 

With  the  dinner  itfelf  I  had,  in  a  manner,  no- 
thing to  do.  I  did  not  fo  much  as  fuggeft  one  of 
the  proper  and  excellent  toajis  provided  on  the 
occafion,  though  it  was  natural  for  my  friends  to 
look  to  m^e  for  things  of  that  kind,  if  I  had  inte- 
refted  myfelf  much  in  itj  and  when  oppofition  was 
talked  of,  and  it  was  fuppofed  that  fome  infults 
would  be  offered  to  myfelf  in  particular,  I  yielded 
to  the  folicitations  of  my  friends,  and  did  not 
attend.  Others,  however,  went  on  that  very  ac- 
count; thinking  it  mean,  and  unbecoming  Englilh- 
men,  to  be  deterred  from  a  lawful  and  innocent 
aft,  by  the  fear  of  lawlefs  infult;  and  accordingly 
they  afembled,  and  dined,  in  number  between 
eighty  and  ninety. 

When 


26  An  Appeal  to  the  Public, 

When  the  company  met,  a  croud  was  afTem- 
bled  at  the  door,  and  fome  of  them  hiffed,  and 
fhewed  other  marks  of  difapprobation,  but  no  ma- 
terial violence  was  offered  to  any  body.  Mr. 
Keir,  a  member  of  the  church  of  England,  took 
the  chair;  and  when  they  had  dined,  drank  their 
toafts,  and  fung  the  fongs  which  had  been  pre- 
pared for  the  occafion,  they  difperfed.  This  was 
about  five  o'clock,  and  the  town  remained  quiet 
till  about  eight.  It  was  evident,  therefore,  that 
the  dinner  was  not  the  proper  caufe  of  the  riot 
which  followed :  but  that  the  mifchief  had  been 
pre-concerted,  and  that  this  particular  opportunity 
was  laid  hold  of  for  the  purpofe. 

Some  days  before  this  meeting,  a  few  copies  of  a 
printed  hand-Mil  o^  an  inflammatory  nature,  of  which 
a  copy  is  given  in  the  Appendix y  No.  I.  had  been 
found  in  a  pubHc  houfe  in  the  town,  and  of  this  great 
ufe  was  made  to  inflame  the  minds  of  the  people 
againft  the  Diffenters,  to  whom,  though  without  any 
evidence  whatever,  it  was  confidently  afcribed.  The 
thing  itfelf  did  not  deferve  any  notice,  and  para- 
graphs of  as  feditious  a  nature  frequently  appear  in 
the  public  newfpapers,  and  other  publications,  and 
(as  would,  no  doubt,  have  been  the  cafe  with  this) 
are  neglefted  and  forgotten.  But  the  magiftrates  of 
Birmingham,  and  other  known  enemies  of  the  Dif- 
fenters, were  loud  in  their  exclamations  againft  it, 
though  perhaps  fabricated  for  the  ufe  that  was  made 
of  it  j  and  a  cppy  was  officioufly  fent  to  the  fecreta- 
ries  of  ftate,  who  ordered  a  ftrid  enquiry  to  be  made' 

after 


On  the  Riofs  iti  Birmingham,  27 

after  the  author,  printer,  or  diftributor;  and  in 
confequence  of  this  a  reward  of  an  hundred  pounds 
was  offered,  for  the  difcovery  of  any  of  them. 

In  confequence  of  all  this  preparation,  we  were 
informed  that,  though  the  trade  of  Birmingham 
had  never  been  more  brifk,  fo  that  hands  could 
not  be  found  to  manufadlure  the  goods  that  were 
ordered,  many  of  the  public-houfes  were  that  day 
full  of  people,  whofe  horrid  execrations  againft  the 
Diflenters  were  heard  into  the  ftreets;  and  it  has 
been  aflerted  that  fome  of  the  mailer  manufadurers 
had  Ihut  up  their  work-fhops,  and  thereby  left  their 
men  at  full  liberty  for  any  mifchief. 

It  has  fince  appeared  that  befides  the  dinner  at 
the  Hotel,  there  were  alfo  dinners  of  the  oppofite 
party  on  this  fourteenth  of  July,  and  thofe  not  of 
the  loweft  clafs  of  the  people,  v/ith  whom  the  com- 
mon ale-houfes  were  filled.  Thefe  did  not  rife 
from  their  entertainment  fo  early,  or  with  fo  much 
fobriety,  as  thofe  who  dined  at  the  Hotel  j  and  it 
was  at  the  breaking  up  of  their  companies  that  the 
riots  commenced.  Let  the  impartial  then  judge 
to  which  of  the  dinners  the  riot  that  followed  is  to 
be  afcribed. 

Mr.  Adam  Walker,  the  ingenious  and  well 
known  ledurer  in  natural  Philofophy,  was  paffing 
through  the  town  with  his  wife  and  family,  and 
dined  with  me  at  my  own  houfe,  for  the  laft  time, 

on 


28  An  Appeal  to  to  the  Public 

on  that  day.  Before  dinner,  I  had  walked  to  the 
town  with  him,  and  they  left  me  in  the  evening. 
Some  time  after  this,  three  of  my  intimate  friends, 
whofe  houfes  were  fituated  near  the  fame  road, 
and  farther  from  the  town  than  mine,  called  upon 
me  to  congratulate  me,  and  one  another,  on  the 
dinner  having  pafled  over  fo  well ;  and  after  chat- 
ting chearfully  fome  time  on  the  fubjed,  they  left 
me  juft  as  it  was  beginning  to  be  dark. 

After  fupper,  when  I  was  preparing  to  amufe 
myfelf,  as  I  fometimes  did,  with  a  game  of  back- 
gammon, we  were  alarmed  by  fome  young  men 
rapping  violently  at  the  door;  and  when  they 
were  admitted,  they  appeared  to  be  almofl  breath- 
lefs  with  running.  They  faid  that  a  great  mob 
had  aflembled  at  the  Hotel,  where  the  company 
had  dined ;  that  after  breaking  the  windows  there, 
they  were  gone  to  the  New  Meeting,  and  were 
demolifhing  the  pulpit  and  pews,  and  that  they 
threatened  me  and  my  houfe.  That  they  fhould 
think  of  molefting  me  I  thought  fo  improbable, 
that  I  could  hardly  give  any  credit  to  the  ftory. 
However,  imagining  that  perhaps  fome  of  the  mob 
might  come  to  infult  me,  I  was  prevailed  upon  to 
leave  the  houfe,  and  meant  to  go  to  fome  neigh- 
bour's at  a  greater  dillance  from  the  town ;  but 
having  no  apprehenfion  for  the  houfe  itfelfj  or  any 
thing  in  it,  I  only  went  up  ftairs,  and  put  fome  papers 
and  other  things  of  value,  where  I  thought  that 
any  perfons  getting  into  the  houfe  would  not  eafily 

find 


On  the  Kioti  at  Birmingham,  29 

find  them.  My  wife  did  the  fame  with  fome  things 
of  hers.  1  then  bade  the  fervants  keep  the  doors 
faftened ;  if  any  body  fhould  conae,  to  fay  that  I 
was  gone,  and  if  any  ftones  fhould  be  thrown  at 
the  windows,  to  keep  themfelves  out  of  danger, 
and  that  I  did  not  doubt  but  they  would  go  away 
again. 

At  this  tinne,  which  was  about  half  pad  nine 
o'clock,  Mr.  S.  Ryland,  a  friend  of  mine,  came 
with  a  chaife,  telling  us  there  was  no  time  to  lofe, 
but  that  we  muft  immediately  get  into  it,  and  drive 
off.  Accordingly,  we  got  in  with  nothing  more 
than  the  clothes  we  happened  to  have  on,  and 
drove  from  the  houfe.  But  hearing  that  the  mob 
confided  only  of  people  on  foot,  and  concluding 
that  when  they  found  I  was  gone  off  in  a  chaife, 
they  could  not  tell  whither,  they  would  never  think 
of  purfuing  me,  we  went  no  farther  than  Mr. 
'Ruffell's,  a  mile  on  the  fame  road,  and  there  we 
continued  feveral  hours,  Mr.  Ruffell  himfelf^  and 
other  perfons,  being  upon  the  road  on  horfeback  to 
get  intelligence  of  what  was  paffing,  I  alfo  more 
than  once  walked  about  half  way  back  to  my  own 
houfe  for  the  fame  purpofe ;  and  then  I  faw  the 
fires  from  the  two  meeting-houfes,  which  were 
burning  down. 

About  twelve  we  were  told  that  fome  hundreds 
of  the  mob  were  breaking  into  my  houfe,  and  that 
when  they  had  demolilhed  it,  they  would  certainly 
proceed  to  Mr.  RufTeU's.     We  were  perfuaded, 

therefore. 


30  Ati  Appeal  to  the  Public 

therefore,  to  get  into  the  chaife  again,  and  drive  off; 
but  we  went  no  farther  than  Mr.  Thomas  Hawkes's 
on  Mofeley-Green,  which  is  not  more  than  half  a 
mile  farther  from  the  town,  and  there  we  waited 
all  the  night. 


'&' 


It  being  remarkably  calm,  and  clear  moon-light, 
we  could  fee  to  a  confiderable  diftance,  and  being 
upon  a  riling  ground,  we  diftindly  heard  all  that 
paffed  at  the  houfe,  every  fhout  of  the  mob,  and 
almoft  every  ftroke  of  the  inftruments  they  had 
provided  for  breaking  the  doors  and  the  furniture. 
For  they  could  not  get  any  fire,  though  one  of 
them  was  heard  to  offer  two  guineas  for  a  lighted 
candle ;  my  fon,  whom  we  left  behind  us,  having 
taken  the  precaution  to  put  out  all  the  fires  in 
the  houfe,  and  others  of  my  friends  got  all  the 
neighbours  to  do  the  fame.  I  afterwards  heard 
that  much  pains  was  taken,  but  without  effe6l,  to 
get  fire  from  my  large  ele6lrical  machine,  which 
flood  in  the  library. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  noifes 
ceafed,  and  Mr.  Ruffell  and  my  fon  coming  to  us, 
faid  that  the  mob  was  almoft  difperfed,  that  not 
more  than  twenty  of  them  remained,  and  thofe  fo 
much  intoxicated,  that  they  might  eafily  be  taken. 
We  therefore  returned  with  him,  and  about  four 
o'clock  were  going  to  bed  at  his  houfe.  But  when 
I  was  undreffing  myfelf  for  that  purpofe,  news 
came  that  there  was  a  frefh  acceffion  of  fome 
hundreds  more  to  the  mob,  and  that  they  were 
2  advancing 


On  the  Riots  at  Birmingham,  3 1 

advancing  towards  Mr.  Ruffeli's.  On  this  we  got 
into  the  chaife  once  more,  and  driving  through  a 
part  of  the  town  diftant  from  the  mob,  we  went  to 
Dudley,  and  thence  to  my  fon-in-law's,  Mr.  Finch 
at  Heath-Forge,  five  miles  farther,  where  we  arrived 
before  breakfail,  and  brought  the  firft  news  of  our 
difafter. 

Here  I  thought  myfelf  perfectly  fafe,  and 
imagining  that  when  the  mifchief  was  over  (and  I 
had  no  idea  of  its  going  beyond  my  own  houfe) 
and  fuppofing  that,  as  the  people  in  general  would 
be  afhamed,  and  concerned,  at  what  had  happened, 
I  might  return ;  thinking  alfo  that  the  area  within 
the  walls  of  the  meeting-houfe  might  foon  be 
cleared,  I  intended,  if  the  weather  would  permit,  to 
preach  there  the  Sunday  following,  and  from  this 
text,  Father  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what 
they  do. 

At  noon,  however,  we  had  an  exprefs  from 
Stourbridge,  to  acquaint  us  that  the  mob  had  traced 
me  to  Dudley,  and  would  purfue  me  to  Heath. 
To  this  I  paid  no  attention,  nor  to  anodier  from 
Dudley  in  the  evening  to  inform  us  of  the  fame 
thing  J  and  being  in  want  of  fleep,  I  went  to  bed 
foon  after  ten.  But  at  eleven  1  was  awaked,  and 
told  that  a  third  exprefs  was  juft  arrived  from 
Dudley,  to  affure  us  that  fome  perfons  were  cer- 
tainly in  purfuit  of  me,  and  would  be  there  that 
night.  All  the  family  believing  this,  and  urging 
me  to  make  my  efcape,  I  dreffed  myfelf,  got  on 

horfeback. 


32  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

horfeback,  and  with  a  fervant  rode  to  Bridgnorth, 
where  I  arrived  about  two  in  the  mornins. 


o* 


After  about  two  hours  deep  in  this  place,  1  got 
into  a  chaife,  and  went  to  Kidderminfter,  on  my 
way  to  London.  Here  I  found  myfelf  among  my 
friends,  and,  as  I  thought,  far  enough  from  the 
fcene  of  danger,  efpecially  as  we  continually  heard 
news  from  Birmingham,  and  that  the  mifchief  did 
not  extend  beyond  the  town.  Hearing,  particularly, 
that  all  was  quiet  at  Dudley,  1  concluded  that  there 
could  be  no  real  caufe  of  apprehenfion  at  Heath  j 
and  being  unwilling  to  go  farther  than  was  necef- 
fary,  I  took  a  horfe,  and  arrived  there  in  the 
evening. 

There,  however,  I  found  the  family  in  great 
confternation  at  the  fight  of  me;  and  Mr.  Finch  juft 
arriving  from  Dudley,  and  faying  that  they  were  in 
momentary  expeftation  of  a  riot  there,  that  the 
populace  were  even  afiembled  in  the  ftreet,  and 
were  heard  to  threaten  the  meeting- houfe,  the 
houfe  of  the  minifter,  and  thofe  of  other  principal 
DilTenters,  and  that  all  attempts  to  make  them 
difperfe  had  been  in  vain,  I  mounted  my  horfe 
again,  though  much  fatigued,  and  greatly  wanting 
fleep. 

My  intention  was  to  get  to  an  inn  about  fix 
miles  on  the  road  to  Kidderminfter,  where  I  might 
get  a  chaife,  and  in  it  proceed  to  that  town.  No 
chaife,  however,  was  to  be  hadj   fo  that  I  was 

under 


On  the  Riots  in  'Birmingham.  33 

under  the  neceflity  of  proceeding  on  horfeback, 
and  neither  the  fervant  nor  myfelf  diftinguifhing 
the  road  in  the  night,  we  loft  our  way,  and  at 
break  of  day  found  ourfelves  on  Bridgnorth  race 
ground,  having  ridden  nineteen  miles,  till  we  could 
hardly  fit  our  horfes. 

Arriving  at  this  place  a  fecond  time,  about 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we  with  fome  diffi- 
culty roufed  the  people  at  an  indifferent  inn,  and  I 
immediately  got  into  bed,  and  flept  a  few  hours. 
After  breakfaft  we  mounted  our  horfes,  and  I  got 
a  fecond  time  to  Kidderminfter.  There,  finding 
that  if  I  immediately  took  a  chaife,  and  drove  faft, 
I  might  get  to  Worcefter  time  enough  for  the 
mail-coach,  I  did  fo ;  and  meeting  with  a  young 
man  of  my  own  congregation,  he  accompanied  me 
thither,  which  was  a  great  fatisfadion  to  me,  as  he 
acquainted  me  with  many  particulars  of  the  riot, 
of  which  I  was  before  ignorant.  At  Worcefter  I 
was  juft  time  enough  for  the  coach,  and  fortunately 
there  was  one  place  vacant.  I  took  it,  and  travel- 
ling all  night,  I  got  to  London  on  Monday  morn- 
ing, July  18. 

Here  I  was  in  a  place  of  fafety,  and  had  leilure 
for  reft  and  reflection.  I  can  truly  fay,  however, 
that  in  all  the  hurry  of  my  flight,  and  while  the 
injuries  I  had  received  were  frefh  upon  my  mind,  I 
had  not  one  defponding,  or  unbenevolent  thought. 
I  really  pitied  the  delufion  of  the  poor  incendiaries, 
and  the  infatuation  of  thofe  who  had  deluded  them, 

D  and 


34  ^^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

and  never  doubted  but  that,  though  I  could  not 
tell  hoWj  or  wheuy  good  would  arife  from  this,  as 
well  as  from  every  other  evil.  The  magnanimity 
of  my  wife  was  never  fhaken;  and,  as  at  other 
times,  fhe  then  felt  more  for  others  than  fhe  did 
for  herfelf.  It  was  a  diftreffing  circumftance,  that 
our  daughter  was  expe6ling  to  be  brought  to  bed 
in  about  a  month,  fo  that  fhe  was  full  of  alarm, 
and  her  mother  could  not  leave  her  to  accompany 
me.  We  were,  however,  as  happy  as  we  could 
be  in  this  ftate  of  forced  feparation,  I  with  my 
old  friends  in  London,  and  fhe  either  with  our 
daughter,  or  with  one  of  the  moft  friendly,  gene- 
rous, and  worthy  families  in  the  world,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Birmingham. 

That  there  were  inftigators,  as  well  as  perpe- 
trators, of  thefe  horrid  fcenes,  was  fufficiently  evi- 
dent. Moft  of  thofe  who  committed  the  devafta- 
tions  appeared  by  their  profanenefs,  intoxication, 
and  their  difpofition  to  indifcriminate  plunder,  to 
have  no  fenfe  of  religion  at  all,  and  therefore  could 
only  adopt  the  cry  o(  church  and  king  as  a  pretence. 
In  the  midft  of  their  devaftations  there  were  always 
fome  cool  heads  mixed  with  the  drunken  ones, 
who  reje6ted  all  offers  of  money,  and  faid  that  they 
muft  obey  their  orders.  But  the  moft  decifive  cir- 
cumftance v/as  that  o{ forged  letters  being  read,  one 
at  my  houfe,  in  the  name  of  Mr.  RufTell,  and  an- 
other at  his,  in  the  name  of  Mr.  Jeffries  of  Lon- 
don, on  purpofe  to  inflame  the  mob  to  greater 
outrages.      Whoever  be  the  real  author  of  the 

hand-bill. 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  35 

hand-Ully  certainly  they  who  forged  thefe  letters 
were  capable  of  writing  it,  for  the  ufe  that  was 
adtually  made  of  it.  Indeed,  there  is  nothing  too 
atrocious  for  fuch  perfons  not  to  be  capable  of. 

Being  now  at  my  leifure,  I  wrote  my  Addrefs 
to  the  Inhabitants  ofBirminghamy  Appendix,  No.  II. 
and  upon  the  more  moderate  it  had  fome  influence, 
in  countera6ting  the  ftrange  and  mifchicvous  ac- 
counts that  had  been  every  where  induftrioufly 
propagated,  in  order  to  throw  the  blame  of  the 
whole  tranfaftion  upon  the  Diflenters  in  general, 
and  myfelf  in  particular  (See  Appendix,  No.  III.) 
though  on  others  it  had  a  different  effedt. 

In  London  I  found  by  accident  that  Mr.  W. 
Ruffell  had  juft  arrived  in  town,  who,  next  to  my- 
felf, was  the  principal  objeft  of  diflike  to  the  high 
church  party  in  Birmingham.  He  came  to  re- 
prefent  to  the  miniftry  a  true  ftate  of  things  re- 
lating to  the  riots,  and  to  learn  what  fteps  they 
would  take  with  refpeft  to  it.  When  this  was 
fettled,  he  returned  to  Birmingham,  but  not  before 
he  had  publifhed  an  account  of  what  had  paffed  at 
the  Revolution  dinner,  with  the  toafts  that  were 
given  on  that  occafion.  (See  Appendix,  No.  IV.) 
On  the  fame  day  alfo,  as  it  happened,  Mr.  Keir 
publilhed  an  account  of  the  proceedings,  for  the 
Birmingham  newfpaper  (See  Appendix,  No.  V.) 
and  foon  after  a  more  particular  account  of  the 
toafts,  with  obfervations,  in  explanation  and  vindi- 
cation of  them.      Thefe  gentlemen  giving  their 

D  2  names, 


36  An  Appeal  to  the  'Public 

names,  their  accounts  fatisfied  the  impartial,  that 
the  behaviour  of  the  DifTenters  had  not  been  liable 
to  any  juft  cenfure,  and  that  it  was  not  the  dinner, 
but  a  deep-rooted  animofity  againft  the  DifTenters, 
that  was  the  true  caufe  of  all  the  mifchief. 

In  this  fituation,  what  I  regretted  moft  was 
the  lofs,  as  I  then  fuppofed,  of  all  my  manufcript 
papers,  for  which  no  reparation  could  be  made. 
They  confided  of  the  following  particulars : 

I.  My  Diaries  from  the  year  1752,  containing 
the  particulars  of  almoft  every  day ;  and  at  the  be- 
ginning of  each  of  them  I  had  given  the  (late  of 
my  mind,  of  my  affairs  in  general,  and  of  my  pro- 
fpefls,  for  that  year;  which  it  was  often  amufing, 
and  alfo  inflrudive,  to  me,  to  look  back  upon. 

II.  Several  large  Common-place  Books ,  containing 
the  fruits  of  my  reading  almoft  ever  fince  I  could 
read  with  any  degree  of  judgment. 

III.  The  Regifter  of  my  Philofophical  Experi- 
mentSy  and  hints  for  new  ones. 

IV.  All  my  Sermons,  Prayers,  and  Forms  for 
adminijlering  the  Lord's  Supper,  &c.  many  of  which 
I  had  with  great  expence  got  tranfcribed  into  a 
fair  long  hand. 

V.  Notes  and  a  Paraphrafe  on  the  whole  of  the 
New  Tejlament,  excepting  the  book  of  Revelation. 

The 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  3  j 

The  whole  of  it  had  been  delivered  from  the 
pulpit,  and  in  a  preface  to  another  work,  I  had 
promifed  to  publilh  it.  I  was  within  five  days 
(employing  my  amanuenfis  three  hours  a  day)  of 
having  the  whole  fairly  tranfcribed  for  the  prefs. 

VI.  A  New  'Tranjlafion  of  the  'PJalms^  Pro- 
verhsy  and  Ecckfiajies ;  having  undertaken,  in  con- 
jun6tion  with  feveral  other  Unitarians,  to  make 
a  new  Tranflation  of  both  the  Old  and  New  Tef- 
tament. 

VII.  A  Jeries  of  Letters  to  the  Members  of  the 
New  Jerufalem  Churchy  which  was  lately  opened  in 
Birmingham.  Thefe  were  fairly  tranfcribed,  and 
were  to  have  gone  to  the  prefs  the  Monday  fol- 
lowing ;  and  being  on  the  mod  friendly  terms  with 
the  minifter,  and  principal  members  of  that  church, 
I  had  made  an  appointment  to  meet  them  on  the 
preceding  Friday,  to  read  the  work  to  them  from 
the  manufcript,  in  order  to  be  fatisfied  that  I  had 
not  miftated  any  of  their  doftrines,  and  that  I 
might  hear  their  obje6lions  to  what  I  had  written. 
A  rough  draft  of  a  great  part  of  thefe  Letters  hap- 
pened to  be  preferved,  in  confequence  of  taking 
a  copy  of  them  by  MefTrs.  Boulton  and  Watt's 
machine,  and  from  this  I  have  lately  pubhfhed 
them. 

VIII.  Memoirs  of  my  own  Life,  to  be  pub- 
lifhed  after  my  death. 

D  3  IX.  A  great 


38  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

IX.  A  great  number  of  letters  from  my  friends 
and  learned  foreigners,  with  other  papers, 

X.  A  fhort  account  of  all  the  perfons  whofe 
names  are  introduced  into  my  chart  of  Biography, 
which  I  intended  to  pubhfh,  though  not  very  foon. 

XI.  Illiifirations  of  Hartley's  doSlrine  of  AJfocia- 
tion  of  Ideas y  and  farther  Obfervations  on  the  Human 
M':ndy  the  publication  of  which  I  had  promifed  in 
the  Preface  to  m/  EJfay  on  Education.  This  would 
perhaps  have  been  the  mofl  orignal,  and  nearly 
t.ie  laft,  of  my  publications.  The  hints  and  loofe 
materials  for  it  were  written  in  feveral  volumes, 
not  one  fcrap  of  which  is  yet  recovered. 

XII.  Befides  thefe,  I  had  what  had  coft  me 
much  labour,  though,  as  I  did  not  mean  to  make 
any  public  ufe  of  them,  I  do  not  much  regret  their 
lofs,  viz.  A  large  couife  of  Le5lures  on  the  Con- 
Jlitution  and  Laws  of  England,  and  another  on  the 
Hijiory  of  England,  which  I  had  read  when  I  was 
tutor  at  Warrington,  and  of  which  a  fyllabus  may  be 
feen  in  the  former  editions  of  my  EJfay  on  Education, 
In  the  fame  clafs  of  manufcripts,  not  much  to  be 
regretted,  I  place  a  great  variety  of  mifcellaneous 
juvenile  compofitions,  and  coUeftions  of  which  I 
occafionally  made  fome,  though  not  much,  ufe. 

XIII  My  lajl  Will,  Receipts  and  Accounts, 

Let 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  30 

Let  any  man  of  letters,  arrived,  as  I  am,  to 
near  the  age  of  fixty,  confider  what  muft  have  been 
my  accumulation  of  curious  papers  of  various 
kinds,  from  the  variety  and  extent  of  my  purfuits 
(greater  unqueftionably  than  that  of  mod  men  now 
living)  and  think  what  I  could  not  but  have  felt 
for  their  lofs,  and  their  difperfion  into  fuch  hands 
as  they  fell  into,  and  who  make,  as  I  hear,  the 
moft  indecent  and  improper  ufe  of  them.  This 
makes  the  cafe  much  worfe  than  that  of  mere 
plunder,  and  the  deftrudtion  of  books  and  papers 
by  Goths  and  Vandals,  who  could  not  read  any  of 
them.  It  was,  however,  no  fmall  fatisfadlion  to 
me,  to  think  that  my  enemies,  having  the  freeft 
accefs  to  every  paper  I  had,  might  be  convinced 
that  I  had  carried  on  no  treafonable  correfpondence, 
and  that  I  had  nothing  to  be  concerned  about 
befides  the  effects  of  their  impertinent  curiofity. 

The  deftru(5tion  of  my  library  did  not  affedt 
me  fo  much  on  account  of  the  money  I  had  ex- 
pended upon  it,  as  the  choice  of  the  books  \  having 
had  particular  obje6ts  of  ftudy,  and  having  col- 
ledled  them  with  great  care,  as  opportunity  ferved, 
in  the  courfe  of  many  years.  It  had  alfo  been  my 
cuftom  to  read  almoft  every  book  with  a  pencil  in 
my  hand,  marking  the  paffages  that  I  wifhed  to 
look  back  to,  and  of  which  I  propofed  to  make 
any  particular  ufej  and  I  frequently  made  an  index 
to  fuch  paffages  on  a  blank  leaf  at  the  end  of  the 
book.  In  confequence  of  this,  other  fets  of  the 
D  4  fame 


40  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

fame  work  would  not,  by  any  means,  be  of  the 
fame  value  to  me;  for  I  have  not  only  loll  the 
books,  but  the  chief  fruit  of  my  labour  and  judg- 
ment in  reading  them. 

Alfo  my  laboratory  not  only  contained  a  fet  of 
the  mod  valuable  and  ufeful  inftruments  of  every 
kind,  and  original  fubftances  for  experiments,  but 
other  fubftances,  the  refults  of  numerous  procelTes, 
referved  for  farther  experiments  j  as  every  experi- 
enced chymift  will  fuppofe,  and  thefe  cannot  be 
replaced  without  repeating  the  procefTes  of  many 
years.  No  money  can  repair  damages  of  this  kind. 
Alfo,  feveral  of  my  inftruments  were  either  v/holly, 
or  in  part,  of  my  own  conftrudlion,  and  fuch  as 
cannot  be  purchafed  any  where. 

Notwithftanding  this  deftru6lion  of  my  manu- 
fcripts,  I  do  not  know  that  fuch  a  calamity  could 
have  happened  at  a  more  convenient  time,  in  the 
courfe  of  the  laft  ten  years.  Had  it  been  during 
the  compofition  of  my  Hiftory  of  early  Opinions  con- 
cerning Chriji,  my  Church  Hiftory,  or  the  New  Edition 
cf  my  Philofophical  Works,  I  could  never  have  com- 
pleted, or  refumed  them;  nor  without  the  books 
which  I  then  had,  could  I  have  undertaken  what 
I  have  done  fince.  Very  happily  alfo,  I  had 
finiftied  a  long  courfe  of  experiments  on  the  doc- 
trine of  phlogifton,  and  the  compofition  of  water,  and 
my  laft  paper  on  the  fubjed  was  juft  printed  for 
the  Philofophical  TranfaSfions, 

One 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmi?tghaj7i.  41 

One  of  the  moft  mortifying  circunnftances  in 
this  calamity  was  the  difperfion  of  a  great  number 
of  letters  from  my  private  friends,  from  the  earlieft 
period  of  my  correfpondence,  into  the  hands  of 
perfons  wholly  deftitute  of  generofity  or  honour. 
Thefe  letters  I  had  carefully  arranged,  fo  that  I 
could  immediately  turn  to  any  of  them,  when  I 
wifhed  to  look  back  to  them,  as  a  memorial  of 
former  friendfhips,  or  for  any  other  purpofe.  But 
they  were  kept  in  a  box  which  was  ordered  by  my 
laft  will  to  be  burned  without  infpeftion.  Now, 
however,  letters  which  I  did  not  wifh  even  my 
executors  to  fee,  were  expofed,  without  mercy  or 
fhame,  to  all  the  world.  No  perfon  of  honour 
will  even  look  into  a  letter  not  directed  to  himfelf. 
But  mine  have  not  only  been  expofed  to  every 
curious,  impertinent  eye,  but,  as  I  am  informed, 
are  eagerly  perufed,  commented  upon,  and  their 
fenfe  perverted,  in  order  to  find  out  fomething 
againft  me. 

Some  of  my  private  papers  are  faid  to  have 
been  fent  to  the  fecretary  of  flate.  But  fecretaries 
of  ftate,  I  prefume,  are  gentlemen y  and  confider 
themfelves  as  bound  by  the  fame  rules  of  juftice 
and  honour  that  are  acknowledged  to  bind  other 
men,  and  therefore,  if  this  be  the  cafe,  thefe  papers 
will  certainly  be  returned  to  me. 

Of  this  kind  of  ill  ufage,  I  do  not  accufe  the 

illiterate  mob,  who  made  the  deveftationj  for  few 

of  them,  I  fuppofe,  could  read,  but  thofe  perfons 

of 


42  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

of  better  education  into  whofe  hands  the  papers 
afterwards  came.  Had  perfons  of  this  clafs  inter- 
pofed,  and  exerted  themfelves,  they  might,  no 
doubt,  have  faved  the  greateft  part  of  this,  to  me 
moll  valuable  property,  for  the  lofs  of  which  (but 
more  efpecially  for  the  ungenerous  ufe  that  was 
made  of  it)  no  compenfation  can  be  made  me. 

My  numerous  correfpondents  in  different  coun- 
tries of  Europe,   but  more   efpecially  thofe  who 
wrote  to  me  in  confidence  in  this  country,  will  be 
as  much  affeded  by  this  cataftrophe  as  myfelf     I 
miight,  no  doubt,  have  deftroyed  thofe  letters,  and 
other  private  papers,  myfelf.    But  I  could  not  fore- 
fee  that  men  would  afl  the  part  of  brutes,  without 
the  leaft  regard  to  law,  to  common  equity,  huma- 
nity, or  decency;  and  that  an  event  fhould  happen 
at  the  clofe  of  the  eighteenth  century,  of  which  it 
will  not  be  eafy  to  find  a  parallel  for  three  centu- 
ries before.     For  the  perfecutions  of  chriflians  by 
heathens,  and  of  proteftants  by  papifts,  were  gene- 
rally conduced  by  fome  rule;  and  in  matters  of 
folicy  and  religion  fome  decent  regard  was  ftill  paid 
to  a  man's  private  concerns,  in  which  the  ftate  had 
no  intereft.     Not  to  feel  fuch  loffes  as  thefe,  and 
fuch  ufage  as  this,  would  be   not  to  be  a  man. 
But  I  am  a  chrifcian,  and  I  hope  I  bear  them  as 
fuch,  acknowledging  the  hand  of  God,  as  well  as 
that  of  man,  in  all  events 

I  was  alfo  much  confoled  by  the  addrejfes  I  re- 
ceived, not  only  from  particular  perfons,  but  from 

various 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  43 

various  bodies  of  men,  who  interefted  themfelves 
in  my  fufFerlngs.  Some,  if  not  all  of  them,  I  fhall 
infert  in  the  Appendix;  as  they  may  ferve  to  en- 
courage other  perfons  in  the  purfuit  of  truth  and 
the  praftice  of  virtue,  notwithftanding  the  utmoft 
malice  of  their  enemies.  I  need  not  fay  that  1  re- 
ceived the  greateft  confolation  from  the  addreffes 
of  my  congregation,  and  efpecially  thofe  of  the 
younger  part  of  it,  to  whom  I  had  given  particular 
attention. 


REFLECTIONS 


REFLECTIONS. 


AFTER  the  preceding  detail  o(fa5fs,  I  now 
proceed  to  lay  before  my  readers  a  feries  of  Re- 
flections  to  which  they  have  given  occafion,  and  I 
hope  they  are  fuch  as  will  not  be  without  their 
ufe  J  and  then,  great  as  my  lofs  has  been  ftated  to 
be,  it  will  not  be  the  fubjedb  of  any  regret. 


SECTION    I. 

Of  the  Power  of  Rejentment  to  -prevent  Compafjion, 

1  CANNOT  help  obferving  on  this 
occafion,  as  on  a  thoufand  others,  how  much  the 
leaft  caufe  of  refentment  tends  to  ftifle  every  emo- 
tion of  fympathy  and  compafTion. 

Had  any  perfon  whatever  fpent  a  great  part  of 
his  life  in  the  merely  innocent  employment  of  col- 
ledting  medals,  watching  with  the  utmoft  anxiety 
every  opportunity  of  completing  his  fuite;  had  an- 
other given  the  fame  time  to  a  colleftion  of  ihells, 
foITils,   prints,   or  books   of  any  particular  clafs, 

without 


46  An  Appeal  to  the  "Public 

any  farther  view  than  that  of  amufing  himfelf  and 
his  friends  j  and  any  of  his  neighbours,  who  knew 
in  what  manner,  and  how  long,  he  had  been  em- 
ployed, have  come,  and  deftroyed  the  labours  of 
his  life  in  an  hour,  there  are  few  perfons,  I  believe, 
who  would  not  have  felt  for  the  injury.  For  every 
man's  labours  are  of  value  to  himfelf  j  and  every 
man  has  a  natural  right  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of  his 
labours,  provided  they  do  not  interfere  with  the 
enjoyments  of  others.  An  injury  of  this  kind 
would  be  confidered  as  an  injury  done  to  fociety 
itfelf,  which  engages  for  the  protection  of  every  in- 
dividual in  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  his  innocent  gra- 
tifications and  purfuits,  whatever  they  be.  Every 
perfon  would  make  the  cafe  his  own,  and  have 
confidered  what  he  himfelf  would  have  felt,  not 
after  having  fpent  his  hfe  in  the  fame  purfuits,  be- 
caufe  for  them  he  might  have  had  no  particular 
tafte,  but  in  any  purfuit  equally  pleafing  to  him, 
and  would  have  refented  the  injury  with  the  greatefl 
fenfibility. 

Had  this  perfon's  purfuits  been  of  acknowledged 
utility  to  the  public,  and  in  the  eye  of  the  world 
done  credit  to  his  country,  and  to  his  age;  had 
they  been  the  labours  of  a  Boyle,  a  Newton,  or  a 
Franklin,  or  thofe  of  a  Pope,  an  Addifon,  or  a 
Locke,  that  had  been  thus  wantonly  and  malici- 
oully  deftroyed,  all  the  world  in  a  manner,  and  his 
country  in  particular,  would  have  taken  fire  at  the 
injury,  and  have  thought  no  punifhment  too  great 
for  it. 

But 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  47 

But  let  politics^  or  religion^  be  concerned;  let 
the  curious  colle6lor,  the  naturalift,  the  poet,  or 
the  philofopher,  be  fufpefled  to  be  of  an  unpopular 
party  in  either,  and  the  very  circumftance  that 
would  have  filled  his  countrymen  with  compaflion 
for  him,  and  with  rage  againft  his  plunderers, 
would  make  many  rejoice  in  the  mifchief;  and 
without  the  leaft  regard  to  the  innocence,  or  public 
merit,  of  his  purfuits,  they  would  receive  a  gratifi- 
cation from  the  idea  of  their  hereby  having  it  in 
their  power  to  give  him  and  his  friends  the  more 
fenfible  pain.  Nay,  provided  they  conceived  that 
any  advantage  would  accrue  from  it  to  their  party, 
they  would  take  a  favage  pleafure  in  deflroying 
him,  and  his  labours  together. 

Such  has  been  the  fcene  exhibited  at  Birming- 
ham, and  I  wifh  it  may  prove  an  inftrudlive  lefTon 
to  mankind.  I  do  not  fay  what  I  have  been,  or 
what  I  have  done.  But  had  I  been  a  Boyle,  a 
Newton,  or  a  Franklin,  or  had  I  had  ten  times  the 
merit  of  each,  or  of  all  of  them,  I  am  confident, 
from  what  I  have  heard  and  obferved,  that  this 
circumftance  would  only  have  been  an  excitement 
to  my  enemies  to  the  mifchief  they  have  done  me. 
The  higher  1  had  ftood  in  the  good  opinion  of  my 
friends,  or  of  the  public,  the  greater  pleafure  would 
they  have  taken  in  pulling  me  down. 

This  has,  moreover,  been  done  by  perfons 
who  do  not  want  private  virtue,  by  perfons  of 
honour,  juftice,  and  feeling  in  common  Hfe^  and 

who 


48      -         Ar^  Appeal  to  the  Tiihlic 

who,  if  I  had  not  been  obnoxious  to  them  on  ac- 
count of  my  opinionSy  would  have  reheved  me  in 
diftrefs,  and  have  done  me  any  kindnefs  in  their 
power;  nay  who,  if  they  had  had  any  knowledge  of 
literature,  or  fcience,  might  perhaps  have  been 
proud  of  having  me  for  a  townfman  and  acquaint- 
ance, and  have  taken  a  pleafure  in  fhewing  ftran- 
gers  the  place  where  I  lived. 

Had  I  been  a  clergyman  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, of  httle  or  no  reputation,  and  the  injury  been 
done  by  Diflenters,  no  punifhment  would  have 
been  thought  fufficient  for  the  perpetrators  of  fo 
much  wickednefs;  and,  in  the  eyes  of  the  nation, 
the  whole  fe6t  would  have  been  thought  deferving 
of  extirpation.  Like  the  death  of  Charles  I.  the 
guilt  of  it  v/ould  have  been  entailed  upon  our 
lateft  pofterity. 

I  was  forcibly  ftruck  with  this  idea  on  feeing  a 
mofl  ingenious  imitation  of  plants  in  paper,  cut 
and  painted  fo  like  to  nature,  that,  at  a  very  fmall 
diftance,  no  eye  could  have  perceived  the  differ- 
ence; and  by  this  means  they  were  capable  of 
being  preferved  from  the  attacks  of  infeds,  fo  as 
to  be  greatly  preferable  to  any  hortus  ficcus.  It 
appeared  to  me  that  weeks,  and  in  fome  cafes 
months,  muft  have  been  employed  on  fome  fingle 
plants,  fo  exquifitcly  were  they  finifhed. 

What  would  this  ingenious  and  deferving  young 
lady  have  felt,  how  would  her  family  and  friends, 

how 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  49 

how  would  all  botanifts,  though  they  fhould  only 
have  heard  of  the  ingenious  contrivance,  and  of  the 
labour  and  time  fhe  had  fpent  upon  her  plants; 
nay,  how  would  the  country  in  general  have  been 
filled  with  indignation,  had  any  envious  female 
neighbour  come  by  force,  or  ftealth,  and  thrown 
all  her  flowers  into  the  fire,'  and  thus  deftroyed  all 
the  fruits  of  her  ingenuity,  and  patient  working  for 
years,  in  a  fingle  moment.  And  yet  all  this,  excel- 
lent  as  it  was,  might  with  certainty  have  been  done 
again,  and  perhaps  in  an  improved  manner.  If 
this  particular  lady  had  not  had  time,  or  inclination, 
to  do  the  fame  work  over  again,  fhe  might  have 
inftru6ted  others,  and  precautions  might  have  been 
taken  to  prevent  fuch  a  misfortune  a  fecond  time. 

But  the  havoc  that  was  made  in  almoft  as  (hort 
a  fpace  of  time  in  my  library  and  laboratory, 
neither  myfelf  or  any  body  elfe  can  repair;  and  yet 
thoufands,  and  ten  thoufands,  I  have  no  doubt,  arc 
fo  far  from  feeling  any  fympathy  with  me,  or  my 
friends,  on  the  occafion,  that  they  rejoice  in  it,  and 
would  rejoice  the  more  in  proportion  as  the  irre- 
parable mifchief  had  been  greater*. 

If  the  fame  malicious,  female  fhould  not  only 
have  thrown  this  lady's  flowers  into  the  fire,  but 
ranfacked  her  apartments,  and,  getting  poflfeflion  of 
all  her  private  letters,  have  amufed  herfelf  with 

*  So  far  am  I  from  being  confidered  an  injured  per/on  by  many, 
that  they  fcruple  not  to  confider  me  as  the  proper  caufe  of  the  deatli 
of  thofe  who  were  executed  for  the  riots,  in  ihort,  nothing  lefs  than  a 
rnnrderer.  Such  is  the  idea  conveyed  by  the  autJior  of  a  ballad  in  imi- 

Ji  tation 


5©  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

reading  them,  and  publilhing  them  in  all  the  neigh- 
bourhood, in  order  to  do  her  all  the  injury  in 
her  power,  would  not  the  crime  be  thought 
worthy  of  the  fevereft  punilhment,  as  a  violent 
breach  of  all  the  bonds  of  fociety  ?  A  nd  yet  in  my 
cafe,  this  very  outrage  has  been  committed  with- 
out any  fenfe  of  guilt  in  the  perpetrators,  or  the 
by-ftanders  of  the  fame  party.  Such  is  the  baneful 
influence  of  party  fpirit. 


SECTION    II. 


My  coming  to  Birmingham  not  the  Caufe  of  the  Party 
Spirit  in  the  Place, 

xT  will  be  evident  from  the  preceding 
narrative  that  my  coming  to  Birmingham  was  by 
no  means  the  caufe,  as  is  now  aflerted,  of  the  party 
Ipirit  which  fo  unhappily  prevails  in  that  place. 
Every  thing  that  I  wrote  refpefting  the  eftablifhed 
church  was  occafioned  by  the  writings  of  others 
againft  the  Diflenters.     In  no  cafe  whatever  was  I 

tatlon  of  the  fong  of  William  and  Margaret y  fent  to  me  by  the  poft 
from  Chefter. 

This  is  the  dark  and  fearful  hour, 

When  Ghofts  their  wrongs  difclofe. 
Now  graves  give  up  their  dead,  to  haunt 

The  guiliy  foul's  repofe. 
Bethink  thee,  Prieftley,  of  thy  fault. 

Thy  love  of  civil  itrife  j 
And  give  me  back  my  honeft  fame. 

And  give  me  back  my  life. 

the 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  5 1 

the  aggreflbr  j  and  I  never  troubled  even  my  own 
congregation  with  a  fingle  difcourfe  on  the  fubje6l, 
though  this  had  been  done  again  and  again  by  my 
predeceflbr  Mr.  Bourne  ;  and  I  never  heard  that 
he  was  particularly  complained  of  on  that  account. 

The  long  controveriy  I  had  on  the  fubjeft  of 
the  trinity^  which,  however,  had  no  particular  re- 
fpedl  to  Birmingham,  was  the  confequence  of  the 
attack  of  Bifhop  Horfley,  and  others  of  the  clergy, 
on  one  part  of  my  Hijiory  of  the  Corruptions  of 
Chrijiianity .  AH  my  Defences  of  Uiiitarianifm, 
written  in  the  courfe  of  this  controverfy,  are  before 
the  Public,  and  I  appeal  to  all  impartial  readers,  if 
they  be  not  calm  replies  to  fome  of  the  moft  viru- 
lent modes  of  attack  of  which  there  are  any  exam- 
ples in  this,  or  in  any  other,  country.  The  Bifhop's 
profeiTed  obje6t  was  to  deftroy  my  credit  in  toto, 
fo  that  nothing  that  I  Ihould  ever  write  on  the 
fubjedt  might  be  regarded. 

Befides,  what  did  I  do,  urged  as  I  was,  in  every 
pofTible  method,  more  than  propofe  my  opinionsy 
with  the  reafons  on  which  they  were  founded. 
There  was  no  violence  in  this.  And  cannot  opinion 
be  oppofed  by  opinion,  and  argument  by  argu- 
ment? I  ferioufly  think  that  the  doftrine  of  the 
divine  unity,  as  oppofed  to  that  of  the  trinity^  is  of 
the  greateit  importance  in  chriftianity;  and  it  is 
likewife  my  opinion,  that  civil  eftablifJments  of  chrif- 
tianity are  the  bane  of  it,  tending  to  increafe,  and  to 
perpetuate,  every  abufe  that  has  been  introduced 
E  2  into 


52  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

into  it.  But  many  other  perfons  have  maintained 
the  fame  opinions/  and  have  held  the  fame  lan- 
guage, before  me.  I,  therefore,  think  it  a  peculiar 
honour  to  my  writings,  that  my  adverfaries  have  at 
length  found  no  method  of  replying  to  them  fo  ef- 
fectual as  deftroying  my  property,  and  attempting 
my  lifci  infligating  a  furious  mob  to  commit  fuch 
ravages  on  general  literature,  as  the  European 
world  has  not  known  fince  the  ages  of  acknow- 
ledged barbarifm. 


SECTION  III. 


Of  Dijfenters  meddling  with  Politics, 

XT  is  faid  by  many  that,  if  I  had  not 
meddled  with  politics  the  riots  in  Birmingham 
would  not  have  taken  place.  But  this  alfo  is  an 
hypothecs  not  fupported  by  fads.  If  the  indigna- 
tion of  the  populace  had  been  excited  againft  me  as 
a  politician,  and  not  as  a  Diflcnter,  why  did  they 
begin  with  demolilhing  the  meeting-houfe,  before 
they  proceeded  to  my  own  houfe,  or  made  any 
attempt  upon  my  perfon  ?  Why  did  they  de- 
molifh  the  Old  Meeting,  the  minifters  of  which 
had  never  appeared  in  a  political  character  ?  And 
what  had  Mr.  Taylor  and  Mr.  John  Ryland  ever 
done  in  a  poHtical  capacity  ?  The  rioters  evidently 

made  no  diftinftion  between  political  DifTenters 

and 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  53 

and  others,  but  confined  their  outrages  to  thofe 
who  are  generally  called  the  more  liberal,  or  unita- 
rian DifTenters,  as  conceiving  them  to  be  pecu- 
liarly hoftile  to  the  church,  and  therefore  to  the 
Hate,  as  connected  with  the  church. 

But  what  have  been  my  writings  as  a  politician  ? 
They  are  very  inconfiderable,  and  never,  that  I  un- 
derflood,  gave  much  offence.  All  the  time  that  I 
was  with  the  Marquis  of  Lanfdowne,  which  was 
feven  years,  in  which  I  had  no  employment  as  a 
minifter,  I  never  wrote  a  political  pamphlet,  or 
paragraph.  My  ftudies  were  then,  as  before,  and 
fince,  theology,  philofophy^  and  general  literature. 

My  Effay  on  the  Firft  Principles  of  Government, 
which,  of  all  my  vv^ritings,  may  be  thought  the 
moft  offenfive  to  the  friends  of  arbitrary  power, 
was  publifhed  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  and 
never  proceeded  farther  than  a  fecond  edition, 
which  alfo  has  been  on  fale  almoft  twenty  years  j 
fo  that  it  could  not  have  given  any  recent  provoca- 
tion. The  political  part  of  my  Lectures  en  Hijiory 
and  General  Policy^  is  much  in  favour  of  the  civil 
part  of  our  prefent  conftitution,  though  not  without 
hinting  at  fuch  improvements  in  it,  as  many  up- 
right and  enlightened  perfons  of  all  denominations, 
wifli  for. 

Suppofing,  however,  that  I  had  written  much 
more  largely  on  politics,  particular  as  well  as  ge- 
neral, is  this  a  fubje6t  that  DifTenters  mufl  not 
E  3  touch  ? 


54  -^^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

touch  ?  As  equal  citizens,  have  we  not  an  equal 
intereft  in  the  concerns  of  the  ftate ;  and  does 
it  not  behove  us  to  watch  over  that  intereft,  as 
much  as  others,  whofe  ftake  in  it  is  not  greater 
than  ours  ? 

When  the  government  was  friendly  to  the  Dif- 
fenters,  our  rulers  were  glad  enough  to  avail  them- 
felves  both  of  our  pens  and  of  our  fwords.  Our 
7-ight  to  give  our  opinion  in  affairs  of  ftate  was  not 
then  queftioned ;  and  what  has  happened  to  affedt 
that  right  fince  ?  It  is  plain  that  it  is  only  our 
exercife  of  that  right  that  gives  offence.  No 
complaint  was  ever  made  of  the  conduct  of  Mr, 
Bradbury,  who  was  continually  preaching  political 
fermons,  and  who  had  a  great  hand  in  promoting 
the  acceffion  of  the  houfe  of  Hanover,  except  by 
the  clergy,  who  were  generally  enemies  of  that 
acceffion. 

Though  no  change  has  taken  place  in  our  ge- 
neral principles,  our  opinions  are  now  fuppoled  to 
be  unfavourable  to  the  maxims  of  thofe  who  have 
the  conduA  of  adminiftration ;  and  hence  the  new 
language,  that  Diffenters,  and  particularly  diffent- 
ing  minifters,  ought  to  confine  themfelves  to  mat- 
ters of  religion  j  and  that,  content  with  our  tolera- 
tion, we  ought  not  even  to  refleft  on  the  efta- 
bliftied  church,  which  is  now  confidered  as  an 
effential  part  of  the  ftate.  I  was  never  complained 
of  for  having  meddled  with  fhilofophy,  which  is  as 
foreign  to  my  proper  profeffion  as  politics. 

But 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.         55 

But  in  what  fcnfe  can  this  be  called  a  free 
CQuntryy  if  every  citizen  be  not  at  full  liberty  to  de- 
liver his  opinion,  in  fpeaking  or  writing,  on  any 
[  fubje6t  whatever,  without  the  dread  of  civil  penal- 
ties, legally  or  illegally  inflicted  ?  And  how  is  our 
religion  even  tolerated^  if  we  be  debarred  the  privi- 
lege of  writing  in  its  defence,  and  freely  advancing 
whatever  we  may  deem  of  importance  for  that 
purpofe  ? 

If  umbrage  be  taken  at  Diflenters  writing  on 
any  particular  fubjecft,  let  us,  at  leait,  be  prohibited 
by  law^  and  let  not  any  man  be  punilhed  for  doing 
what  no  known  law  makes  to  be  a  crime,  and 
which  in  itfeif  may  be  highly  meritorious.  Let 
an  A(5l  of  Parliament  be  made  to  declare  it  felony, 
or  treafon,  for  any  Diffenter  (or  if  that  be  thought 
too  much,  for  any  diflenting  minifter)  to  write  a 
political  pamphlet,  finding  fault  with  the  conftitu- 
tion,  or  arraigning  the  conduft  of  adminiftration, 
and  we  fhall  then  confider  what  is  to  be  done  in 
thefe  new  circumftances. 

Some  weak  politicians,  and  high  churchmen, 
as  an  excufe  for  not  appearing  difpleafed  at  the 
riots  in  Birmingham,  which  did  not  afFed  the  Cal- 
viniftic  Diffenters,  allege  that  the  Diflenters  of  this 
day  are  a  very  different  fet  of  perfons  from  thofe 
of  former  times,  for  whom  the  A<5t  of  Toleration 
was  provided.  This,  no  doubt,  is  true.  All  bo- 
dies of  men  have  changed  in  a  courfe  of  time,  and 
the  Diflenters  among  the  refl:.  The  clergy  of  the 
E  4  eftabliflied 


56  ^An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

eftablifhed  church  are  by  no  means  the  fanae  that 
they  were  at  the  Revolution  j  for  they  were  then 
generally  the  enemies  of  the  prefent  reigning  fa- 
mily, though  they  now  make  fo  great  a  boaft  of 
their  being  the  friends  of  it.  With  refped  to 
their  religious  fentiments,  they  are  greatly  changed 
indeed  fince  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  being, 
from  Predeftinarians,  become  almoft  univerfally 
Arminians,  and  till  of  late  the  more  learned  of  their 
body  are  well  known  to  have  been  Arians.  There 
has  alfo  been  a  great  change  in  the  general  fenti- 
ments of  many  of  the  Roman  Cathohcs.  But,  to 
a  politician,  the  only  queftion  is  whether  any  of 
thefe  changes  of  opinion  give  them  lefs  right  to  the 
.prote6lion  of  civil  government. 

The  principal  change  in  the  Diflenters  is  fimilar 
to  that  which  has  taken  place  among  the  members 
of  the  church  of  England.  They  have  receded 
farther  from  the  fyftem  of  Calvinifm.  Many  of 
them  became  Arians,  and  many  are  now  Unitarians, 
heretofore  more  generally  called  Socinians.  But 
what  has  this  to  do  with  civil  government  ?  Can 
it  be  pretended  that  the  man  who  confines  his 
adoration  to  one  Gody  and  who  calls  this  one  God 
the  God  and  Father  of  "J ejus  Chriji,  is  a  worfe  fubjefb 
of  civil  government  than  he  who,  in  addition  to 
the  worfhip  of  this  one  God,  pays  equal  divine 
honours  to  Jefus  Chrift,  and  alfo  to  another  divine 
perfon  called  the  Holy  Ghofi,  or  than  he  who  adds 
to  all  thefe  the  worlhip  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and 
of  all  the  faints  and  angels  in  the  Popilh  calendar  ? 

The 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  ^*j 

The  queftion  is  furely  too  ridiculous  to  be  difcufled. 
Why  then  fhould  unitarian  Diflenters  be  more  ex- 
pofed  to  lawlefs  violence,  and  left  out  of  the  pro- 
tedlion  of  the  ftate,  than  trinitarian  DifTenters,  or 
than  the  Roman  Catholics,  to  whom  the  favour 
of  government  has  of  late  been  very  juflly  ex-^ 
tended. 

It  is  true  alfo,  that  many  of  the  DifTenters  are 
of  late  become  enemies  to  all  civil  eftabliihments  of 
religion.  But  fo  alfo  are  many  Catholics,  and  even 
many  members  of  the  church  of  England  itfelf. 
And  in  what  fenfe  are  they  enemies,  and  how  are 
they  to  be  dreaded,  and  guarded  againft,  as  fuch  ? 
They  are  only  enemies  in  point  o^  argument.  They 
think  it  would  be  better  for  all  flates  not  to  trouble 
themfelves  about  rehgion,  or  at  leaft  not  to  give 
any  preference  to  one  form  of  it  more  than  to  an- 
other. But  this  is  nor  an  opinion  for  which  they 
will  difturb  the  peace  of  any  ftate.  They  wifh 
to  have  this^  as  well  as  every  other  great  queftion, 
interefting  to  man  and  to  fociety,  to  be  freely  dif- 
cufTed.  But  what  is  the  proper  ufe  and  termination 
of  difcujfton,  befides  the  prevalence  of  truth  and  of 
general  happinefs  ?  No  man  who  does  not  perfift  in 
fupporting  what  he  himfelf  believes  to  be  falfe  and 
mifchievous,  will  ever  fay  the  contrary.  Why  then 
fliould  not  DifTenters,  and  all  other  perfons,  be 
tolerated  in  maintaining  this,  as  well  as  any  other 
opinion,  though  it  has  a  remote  relation  to  prac- 
tice, as,  indeed,  every  opinion  of  much  importance 
necefTarily  has. 

Whatever 


58  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

Whatever  were  my  political  fentiments,  though 
I  fhould  be  an  avowed  republican,  and,  as  a 
perfon  high  in  office,  but,  in  this  refpe<5t,  of  little 
information,  lately  faid  of  me,  *'  ready  to  de- 
"  ftroy  the  king,  the  houfe  of  Lords,  and  houfe 
*^  of  Commons  too*,"  as  this  mifchief,  unlefs  I 
were  the  dragon  of  Wantley,  could  only  be  effected 
by  argumenty  by  convincing  the  people,  that  fuch 
defcriptions  of  men  were  ufelefs,  or  mifchievous,  to 
them,  it  would  be  no  juftifiable  reafon  for  infliding 
on  me  what  I  have  fuffered. 

If  my  publications,  be  they  what  they  will,  be 
not  contrary  to  law,  but  merely  fophiftical,  let 
them  be  anfwered.  My  enemies  will  hardly  fay 
that  my  abilities  as  a  writer  are  fuch,  that,  even 
without  the  advantage  of  truthy  I  can  out-write  all 
my  opponents,  and,  in  fpite  of  all  their  efforts,  get 
the  great  body  of  the  people  on  my  fide.  And  till 
this  be  done  the  ftate  is  in  no  manner  of  danger 
from  me.  If  by  writing,  or  afting,  I  expofe  my- 
felf  to  the  cenfure  of  the  law,  let  it  have  its  courfe ; 
but  let  not  perfons,  under  the  pretence  of  fupport- 
ing  government^  encourage  lawlefs  violence,  fubver- 
five  of  all  government  whatever. 

If  by  our  writings  any  perfon  be  injured  in 
his  private  character,  or  affairs,  Dilfenters  are  pu- 

'^  Such  language  as  this  may  be  faid  to  have  been  unintentionally 
the  caufe  of  the  riots  in  Birmingham,  with  as  much  probability  as  the 
fpeech  of  king  Henry  II.  was  that  of  the  murder  of  Becket.  The 
known,  or  the  fuppoled,  wifhes  of  men  in  power  do  not  always  require 
to  be  accompanied  with  pofitive  orders.  They  fliould,  therefore,  be 
particularly  cautious  what  they  fay. 

nilhable 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  59 

nifhable  by  law,  like  other  citizens.  But  public 
meafures,  and  public  charaders,  have  always  been, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  always  will  be,  open  to  public 
animadverfion  in  this  country.  Otherwife,  there 
is  an  end  of  all  true  liberty ;  or  if  from  this  liberty 
the  Diffenters  alone  are  excluded,  it  is  no  free 
country  for  uSj  whatever  it  may  be  for  others. 
Whenever  I  find  myfelf  debarred  the  exercife  of  the 
invaluable  privilege  of  perfe6t  freedom  of  fpeech 
and  writing,  I  Ihall  confider  it  as  a  fignal  for  my 
departure  to  fome  other  part  of  the  world,  where 
it  can  be  enjoyed  v/ithout  moleftation. 


I 
'^^ 


SECTION    IV. 


^he  Bigotry  of  the  High  Church  Party  the  true  Caiije 
of  the  Riots. 

X  HAT  the  true  fource  of  the  late  riots 
in  Birmingham  was  religious  bigotry,  and  the  ani- 
mofity  of  the  high  church  party  againft  the  Dif- 
fenters, and  efpecially  againft  the  Prefbyterians  and 
Unitarians,  and  not  the  commemoratign  of  the 
French  Revolution,  is  evident  from  all  that  has 
paired  before,  at,  and  after,  the  day. 

In  the  public  houfes  where  the  people  were 
inflaming  themfelves  with  liquor,  all  that  day,  and 
fome  time  before,  there  were  heard  execrations  of 

the 


6o  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

the  moft  horrid  kind  againft  the  Prefbyterians  One 
perfon  was  heard  not  only  to  willi  damnation  to 
them,  but  that  "  God  Almighty  would  make  a 
**  week's  holiday  for  the  purpofe  of  damning  them." 
The  mob  did  not  arrive  at  the  Hotel  till  more 
than  two  hours  after  the  company  had  left  it,  and 
there  they  demanded  only  myjelfy  who  had  not  been 
there.  No  part  of  their  vengeance  fell  upon  any 
churchman,  whether  at  the  dinner  or  not.  After 
demolifhing  the  two  meeting-houfes,  and  every 
thing  belong  to  me,  their  next  objefts  were  the 
houfes  of  Mr.  Taylor  and  Mr.  John  Ryland,  who 
were  well  known  to  have  been  much  averfe  to  the 
fcheme  of  the  dinner;  and  during  the  whole  courfe 
of  the  outrages,  the  conftant  cry  was  Church  and 
KING,  and  Down  with  the  Presbyterians. 

That  the  celebration  of  the  French  Revolution 
was  not  the  true  caufe  of  the  riots,  has  indeed 
fufficiently  appeared  from  the  narrative  part  of  this 
work.  That  the  plan  was  laid  fome  time  before, 
and  that  proper  perfons  were  provided  to  condu6t 
it,  is  probable  from  this  circumftance,  that  thofe  in 
the  mob  who  directed  the  reft,  who  were  evi- 
dently not  of  the  loweft  clafs,  and  who  were  fome- 
times  called  their  leaders,  were  not  known  to  hun- 
dreds of  all  defcriptions  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town,  who  obferved  them  attentively;  fo  that  per- 
fons who  were  no  Diflenters,  concluded  that  they 
came  from  a  diftance,  and  probably  from  London. 
The  proper  Birmingham  mob  were  often  perfuaded 

to  defift  from  their  attempts,  till  they  were  joined 

by 


Oji  the  Riots  at  Birmingham,  6 1 

by  thefe  men,  who  both  inftigated  them  to  mif- 
chief,  and  direfted  them  how  to  proceed  in  the 
ihorteft  and  moft  efFeftual  manner. 

If  there  be  any  foundation  for  this  fuppofition, 
the  plan  of  the  riots  muft  have  been  laid  fome  time 
before,  and  of  courfe,  have  been  entirely  inde- 
pendent both  of  the  hand-bill  and  of  the  Revolution 
dinner^  any  farther  than  the  latter  direfted  to  the 
proper  time  for  the  execution  of  the  fcheme,  as 
thefe'  diredlors  muft  have  been  engaged  before 
hand.  Time,  it  is  hoped,  will  throw  fome  light 
on  this  dark  bufinefs.  It  was  probably  intended 
to  humble  and  intimidate  the  DifTenters,  by  fome 
perfons  who  thought  it  more  prudent  to  do  it  by  a 
mob,  than  by  legal  methods. 

That  the  ftorm  was  direfted  folely  againft  thofe 
that  are  commonly  called  the  more  hberal  Dif- 
fenters,  and  not  the  Calviniftic  ones,  was  evident 
from  the  whole  courfe  of  it,  in  which  the  houfes 
and  meeting-houfes  of  the  latter  were  fpared.  The 
only  exception  was  the  houfe  of  Mr.  Hutton  who 
attends  public  worfhip  at  Carr's  Lane,  but  whofe 
fon  and  daughter  belong  to  the  New  Meeting.  It 
is  alfo  thought  that  he  was  obnoxious  to  the  lower 
clafTes  of  the  people  on  account  of  the  ftridl  and 
exemplary  difcharge  of  his  duty  in  the  Court  of 
Requefts.  Let  us  now  fee  what  pafled  fubfequent 
to  the  event. 

The 


62  An  Appeal  to  the  Tuhlic 

The  exultation  of  the  high  church  party,  not 
only  in  Birnningham,  but  through  the  kingdom  in 
general,  on  the  fuccefs  of  this  crufade,  was  un- 
difguifed  and  boundlefs.  All  the  newfpapers  both 
in  town  and  country,  in  the  condufl  of  which 
they  had  particular  influence,  were  full  of  the 
groffeft  abufe  of  the  Diffenters,  and  efpecially  of 
myfelf;  and  fuch  narratives  of  the  proceedings  were 
publifhed  as  cannot  be  accounted  for  from  mif- 
take,  or  mifapprehenfion,  but  muft  have  been  wil- 
fully fabricated  for  the  word  of  purpofes.  Of  this 
I  have,  in  the  Appendix,  No.  III.  given  one  ex- 
ample from  the  paper  called  The  Times. 

There  were  many  of  the  high  church  party 
who  did  not  hefitate  to  fay  that,  if  the  mifchief  had 
terminated  with  the  deftrudion  of  my  houfe,  and 
every  thing  belonging  to  7ne^  all  had  been  well. 
Some  openly  lamented  that  the  mob  had  not  feized 
me,  or  that  I  had  not  perifhed  in  the  conflagra- 
tion. One  clergyman  in  a  public  afllze  fermon, 
called  our  fufferings  wholejome  correHion^  and  an- 
other declared  that,  if  all  my  writings  were  put 
together,  and  myfelf  were  placed  on  the  top  of 
them,  he  fhould  rejoice  to  fet  fire  to  the  pile. 

Many  of  the  high  church  party  were  fo  far 
from  lamenting  my  fufferings,  or  complaining  of 
the  illegal  manner  in  which  the  mifchief  was  done, 
that  they  fcrupled  not  to  juftify  it,  on  the  pretence, 
though   abfolutely   groundlefs,   that   my  writings 

were 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  63 

were  hoftile  to  the  Jiate,  if  not  direcStly,  yet  indi- 
reftly  fo,  as  being  hoftile  to  the  church.  One  in- 
ftance  of  this,  and  one  of  the  moft  moderate  of  its 
kind,  I  fhall  give  in  the  Appendix,  No.  VI.  on 
account  of  the  fingular  circumftance  of  its  being 
printed  together  with  my  own  Letter  to  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Birminghamj  and  thrown  into  many  houfes 
in  London,  with  the  title  of  Self-murder,  or 
the  Doctor  tried  and  convicted  on  his  own 

fVIDENCE. 

The  ftrange  violence  of  the  fame  party  fpirit 
alfo  appeared  by  a  hand-bill^  which  was  diftributed 
in  London  the  day  after  my  arrival  there,  of  which 
a  copy  is  given,  Appendix,  No.  VIL  This  could 
only  be  intended  to  point  me  out  as  a  proper 
objeft  of  deftru6tion,  by  fome  perfon  who  wanted 
the  courage,  though  not  the  will,  to  difpatch  me 
himjelf. 

At  the  fame  time  I  received  an  anonymous 
letter,  from  a  perfon  who  faid  "  he  was  concerned 
"  for  my  misfortunes  and  my  folly,*'  advifing  me 
to  "  have  a  ftrift  guard  on  my  future  conduct  ;'* 
adding,  "  Depend  upon  it,  if  you  proceed  to 
"  foment  difturbances  in  this  place,  nobody  can 
"  anfwer  for  your  fafety.  I  can  aflure  you  the 
"  people  of  this  country  will  not  fee  their  happy 
"  conftitution  infulted  by  any  man." 

The  fame  fpirit  was  but  too  apparent  during 
the  trials  J  the  moft  notorious  of  the  rioters  being 

acquitted 


64  An  Appeal  to  the  'Public 

acquitted  by  the  jury,  againfl  the  cleared  evidence, 
to  the  aftonifhment  of  the  judge,  and  all  the  court, 
and  their  acquittal  was  received  with  the  loudefl 
applaufe  by  the  furrounding  audience.  Nor  was 
this  indecent  exultation  confined  to  thofe  of  the 
lower  clafs,  who  were  heard  to  wiih  "  that  the  Bir- 
*'  mingham  coin  might  circulate  through  the  king- 
donn."  Two  perfons  of  better  condition,  as  I  was 
informed,  meeting  in  the  Town  Hall  at  Warwick, 
immediately  after  the  acquittal  of  two  of  the  prin- 
cipal rioters,  one  of  them  obferved  to  the  other, 
that  they  "  had  fucceeded  beyond  their  expec- 
"  tations,  and  that  fince  thofe  two  hearty  cocks''  (as 
"  he  called  them)  were  fafe,  he  did  not  much  care 
"  for  the  reft."  The  poor  wretches  who  were  left 
to  be  hanged,  it  is  prefumed,  were  fuch  as  knew 
no  fecrets.  This  very  much  refembles  the  ca{e 
of  Bemarecy  who  was  condemned  for  burning  a 
Meeting- houfe  in  the  time  of  Queen  Ann,  but  was 
afterwards  pardoned,  and  in  the  report  of  the  trial, 
by  judge  Fofter,  is  called  "  one  of  Dr.  Sacheverell's 
"  ableft  advocates." 

We  ftill  have  confidence  in  the  juftice  of  our 
country  with  refpeft  to  our  damages.  As  to  lives, 
we  never  wilhed  to  take  any  more  than  might  be 
deemed  neceffary  for  our  own  future  fecurity,  and 
the  peace  of  the  country.  We  fhall  ftill  be  fuf- 
ferers  in  common  with  others,  and  much  more 
than  they,  with  refpeft  to  things  for  which  no  in- 
demnification can  be  made  us. 

They 


On  the  "Riots  in  Birmingham.  6^ 

The  fame  high  church  fpirit  prevailed  through 
moft  parts  of  England,  and  in  places  where  I  had 
nothing  to  do.  Similar  outrages  were  threatened, 
and  apprehended,  at  Manchefter ;  and  it  is  thought 
they  would  have  taken  place  there,  as  well  as  at 
Birmingham,  if  fome  foldiers  had  not  been  ftationed 
in  that  town.  Many  are  of  opinion  that  if  Dr.  Price 
had  been  Hving,  the  florm  would  have  fallen  at 
Hackney  in  preference  to  Birmingham.  A  friend 
of  mine  at  Exeter,  who  had  invited  me  to  fpend 
a  few  weeks  with  him  this  fummer,  faid  that  he 
durft  not  now  receive  me.  The  DilTenters  were 
alfo  threatened  by  the  high  church  party  at  Briftol, 
at  Taunton,  at  Maidftone,  and  other  places  very 
diflant  from  each  other.  However,  things  wore 
a  better  afpeft  in  the  northern,  and  in  fome  of 
the  eaftern  parts  of  the  kingdom.  I  had  friends 
who  offered  me  an  afylum  at  Leeds,  Norwich, 
and  Ipfwich. 

It  will  not  be  eafy  to  produce  an  example  of 
treatm.ent  fo  mercilefs  and  fhameful  as  mine  has 
been ;  and  yet  the  high  church  party  are  perpe- 
tually faying,  that,  though  the  proceedinjj;  has  been 
irregular,  I  have  not,  in  fa6l,  received^. more  than 
I  deferred.  As  to  my  manu/cripis,  they  fay  that  the 
lofs  of  one '  part  of  them,  viz.  the  philofophical 
ones,  is  fufficiently  compenfated  for  by  the  Icfs  of 
the  other,  viz.  the  theological  ones  i  fo  that-T  have 
my  deferts,  and  the  pubHc  is  on  the  whole  no 
lofer.  Thisj,  however,  is  a  virtual  acltnowledg- 
ment  that,  in  their  apprehenfions,  there  was  forne- 

F  ~        thing. 


66  An  Appeal  to  the  'Public 

thing  peculiarly  formidable  in  my  theological  writ- 
ings and  that  they  found  it  eafier  to  difpofe  of 
them  in  any  other  way  than  by  anfwering  them. 
This  condu(5l  is  as  weak  as  their  arguments  have 
always  been;  fince,  as  was  the  cafe  with  the  books 
of  the  Sybils,  the  deftrudion  of  fome  of  my  writ- 
ings increafes  the  value  of  thofe  that  are  pre- 
lerved;  and  by  this  moft  convincing  proof  of  the 
fuccefs  of  my  writings,  other  perfons  will  be  ex- 
cited to  write,  though  I  fhould  be  fo  overwhelmed 
by  my  misfortunes,  as  to  be  incapacitated  from 
writing  any  more. 

Never  fhall  /  be  heard  to  rejoice  in  the  de- 
ftruflion  of  any  of  the  performances  of  my  oppo- 
nents. On  the  contrary,  I  have  always  wiflied,  as 
my  writings  will  evidence,  that  they  had  been 
more  numerous,  in  order  that  their  futility  might 
more  clearly  appear.  But  my  adverfaries  muft 
have  found  that  this  condudl  would  not  fo  well 
fuit  them,  and  therefore  that  their  wifdom  was 
not  to  produce  any  books  of  their  own,  but  to 
deflroy  mine. 

On  this  occafion,*  which  would  have  called 
forth  the  commiferation  of  generous  adverfaries, 

*  In  an  anonymous  manufci-ipt  ballad,  intitled  Ihe  Ghojl  and  the 
Doilor,  lent  me  by  the  poft  from  Cheiter,  one  of  the  perfons  lately 
executed  for  the  riots,  reprefented  as  a  man  of  "  honeft  fame"  and  a 
*'  funple  zealot,"  appears  to  me,  and  reproaches  me  as  the  "  pro- 
**  feffed  prieft  of  fedition,"  whofe  objeft  it  has  been  to  preach  the  de- 
ftruftion  of  all  order,  as  the  caufe  of  his  death,  which  in  juftice  I 
ought  to  fuffer.  After  this  I  am  made  to  rife  "  raving  from  my  bed," 
and  to  "  bum  my  pen,"  with  a  refolution  never  to  write  again.  To 
this  is  added  quod  jit  omnes  boni  piique  etc  imis  peiloribus  precantur. 

But 


On  the  Riots  at  Birmingham.         6y 

there  have  appeared  ftronger  marks  of  virulence 
againft  the  DilTenters  than  have  been  known  for 
many  years  before.  Not  a  grain  of  merit  has  been 
allowed  to  us,  as  a  compenfation  for  the  crimes  of 
which  we  are  accufed;  and  we  are  particularly 
charged  with  the  greateft  ingratitude  againft  the 
government  under  which  we  live. 

Dr.  Tatham  of  Oxford,  exulting  over  us  on 
this  occafion,  fpeaks  of  the  DilTenters  as  gracioujly 
indulged.  But  whether  is  it  our  fyftem  of  religion, 
or  hisy  that  is  moft  gracioufly  indulged,  and  which 
of  them  is  beft  entided  to  this  indulgence  ?  Will 
a  mere  parliamentary  fanflion  give  any  form  of  re- 
ligion a  preference  in  the  eye  of  God  and  of  rea- 
fon;  and  if  this  Ihould  be  a  cafe  in  which  the 
judgment  of  man  Ihall  be  found  to  differ  from 
that  of  God,  it  will  by  no  means  be  the  firft  of  the 
kind.  The  time  is  approaching  when  every  thing 
of  this  nature  will  be  weighed  in  a  jufter  balance 
than  they  ufually  are  at  prefent,  and  while  we  are 
all  waiting  for  this  final  decifion,  let  us  be  humble 
and  forbearing. 

But  though  .many  of  the  clergy  exprefled  the 
moft  rancorous  fentiments  againft  us,  there  have 
appeared  on  this  occafion   among  them  men  of 

But  the  zealots  of  Birmingham,  and  this  martyr  to  the  church  of 
England  among  the  reft,  took  a  much  more  natural  method  to  filence 
me  than  this  ballad  maker  (probably  a  clergyman)  of  Chefter.  What 
he  and  \\\&iv\cx\(i^on\y  prayed  for,  they  u fed  the  proper  means  to  fe- 
cure.  That  they  were  difappointcd  in  their  fcherae  was  not  their 
fault.    They  may  fucceed  better  in  a  fecond  atempt. 

F  2  the 


68  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

the  moft  liberal  minds  and  principles,  who  ex- 
prefled  the  greateft  abhorrence  of  the  conduft  and 
fentiments  of  the  reft  of  their  body,  and  who,  to- 
gether with  fome  generous  minded  laity  of  the 
eftabhlhment,  were  among  the  firfl  to  afford  me 
the  mofl  fubltantial  affiftance. 


SECTION    V. 

Of  the  Pretence  that  Government  was  adverje  to  the 
Dijfenters  and  favoured  the  Rioters. 

JLT  was  unfortunately  a  very  general 
opinion  that  Government  favoured  the  violent  pro- 
ceedings a2;ainfl  the  Diffenters  at  Birmino;ham.  It 
was  the  conftant  cry  of  the  rioters,  in  the  courfe 
of  their  ravages,  "  We  have  nothing  to  fear.  The 
"  juftices  are  for  us.  Government  is  for  usj"  and 
when  they  were  told  the  troops  were  coming,  they 
faid  the  foldiers  were  on  their  fide.  When  the 
king's  proclamation,  offering  the  reward  of  an 
hundred  pounds  for  the  difcovery  and  convi6lion 
of  any  perfon  concerned  in  the  riot  was  publifhed, 
fome  of  the  people  were  heard  to  cry,  "  Is  he  then 
"  turned  Prefbyterian,  and  are  we  to  be  hanged  for 
this?"  Similar  language  was  held  by  fome  who 
ought  CO  have  known  better. 

This 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  69 

This  is  a  circumftance  which  it  greatly  con- 
cerns the  governors  of  a  country  to  attend  to,  if 
they  wifh  to  preferve  the  peace  of  it,  and  extend 
their  proteftion  alike  to  all  the  fubje6ls.  For  if 
any  fmall  part  of  the  community,  and  efpecially 
fuch  members  of  it  as  are  leaft  difpofed  to  vio- 
lence, be  held  out,  or  imagined  to  be  held  out,  to 
the  reft  of  the  community,  as  unworthy  of  proieffion, 
they  will  be  confidered  as  in  a  ftate  of  frofcriptioriy 
and  proper  objecSts  of  perfecution,  expofed  to  every 
infuit  J  and  they  will  have  no  refource  but  in  tem- 
porary felf  defence,  and  final  emigration.  And 
furely  the  experience  of  the  laft  century  muft  have 
fhewn  this  country  the  impolicy,  if  not  the  wicked- 
nefs,  of  fuch  irritation. 

The  Diflenters  have  no  mob  to  oppofe  to  fuch 
abandoned  wretches  as  commited  the  outrages  at 
Birmingham;  and  yet  it  is  now  pretended  that  if 
the  high  church  party  had  not  deftroyed  our  houfes, 
and  places  of  public  v/orfhip,  we  fhould  have  de- 
ftroyed theirs.  But  admitting  that  the  Diflenters 
are  knaves,  they  are  not  fools y  or  rather  madmen,  as 
they  muft  have  been  to  have  attempted  violence 
in  their  fituation,  unlefs  every  one  of  them  had 
been  confcious  to  himfelf  of  having  the  ftrength  of 
Samfon,  and  that  he  was  a  match  for  a  thoufand 
of  his  enemies. 

But  when  did  Diflenters  attempt  any  thing  of 
the  kind  ?  There  are  inftances  enow  upon  record 
of  fimilar  outrages  being  committed  upon  the  Dif- 

fenters. 


70  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

fenters,  in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom  j  but  no 
example  of  any  being  committed  by  them.  They 
are  univerfally  a  fober  and  orderly  people;  and 
whatever  they  may  think  of  other  people's  opinions, 
they  have  no  idea  of  promoting  their  caufe  by 
force.  Not  one  Independent,  Baptift,  or  Methodill, 
I  am  confident,  had  any  hand  in  the  riot  at  Bir- 
mingham, but  only  thofe  members  of  the  church 
of  England  (if  they  can  be  faid  to  be  the  members 
of  any  church)  who  are  in  fad  deftitute  of  all  fenfe 
of  religion  J  and  of  fuch  confifts  a  very  great  pro- 
portion of  the  inhabitants  of  Birmingham,  and  all 
other  large  manufafturing  towns.  In  the  height 
of  the  riot  they  were  addrelTed  by  the  magiftrates, 
and  other  refpeftable  members  of  the  church  of 
England,  who  then  thought  they  had  done  mif- 
chief  enough,  and  wifhed  them  to  proceed  no  far- 
ther, by  the  appellation  of  Friends  and  Fellow- 
churchmen,     See  Appendix,  No.  VIII. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  a  crime  has  been 
committed,  and  of  the  greateft  enormity  in  a  civi- 
lized country.  Immenfe  property  has  been  de- 
ftroyed,  houfes  burned,  lives  endangered,  and  the 
peace  of  many  families  interrupted,  by  an  illegal 
infurre£bion,  in  defiance  of  all  law  and  good  order, 
and  that  thefe  violences  were  committed  on  the 
pretence  of  fupporting  the  church  and  the  king.  It 
certainly,  therefore,  behoves  both  the  church  and 
the  government,  to  exculpate  themfelves,  and  to 
make  every  fatisfadion  to  the  fufferers  that  the 
nature  of  the  cafe  will  admit  of. 

The 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  71 

The  violences  were  committed  by  the  lower 
orders  of  the  people,  but  if  the  friends  of  the 
church  and  of  the  king  in  the  higher  ranks  had 
been  earneft  to  fupprefs  the  riot,  it  might,  no  doubt, 
have  been  effefled  before  any  mifchief  had  been 
done.  If  the  magiftrates,  and  other  principal  inha- 
bitants of  the  town,  belonging  to  the  church,  of 
England,  on  the  firft  hearing  of  the  rioters  going 
to  the  New  Meeting,  had  interpofed,  by  repairing 
to  the  place,  and  earneftly  protefting  againft  the 
violence,  even  that  meeting-houfe  would  not  have 
fuffered.  Had  there  not  been  time  for  this  (which, 
however,  there  certainly  was)  their  interpofition 
might  have  prevented  the  deftru6lion  of  the  fecond 
meeting-houfe.  At  lead,  with  the  afliftance  of  a 
few  men  with  fire-arms,  which  they  could  eafily 
have  commanded,  they  might  have  prevented  all 
the  mifchief  at  my  houfe,  with  every  thing  that 
followed.  There  was,  therefore,  at  leaft  a  cri- 
minal remilTnefs  in  the  friends  of  the  church  and 
the  king.  But  the  clearefl  fads  fhew  that  there 
was  more  than  remilTnefs  on  the  part  of  many 
perfons  of  better  condition,  and  nothing  that  they 
ever  did  (hewed  a  real  difapprobation  of  the  con- 
du6b  of  the  mob  previous  to  the  demolition  of  my 
houfe,  but  only  a  wifh  that  they  fhould  proceed  no 
farther  than  that;  and  this  on  no  other  account  than 
that  of  the  expence  it  would  be  to  themfelves.  This 
is  evident  from  the  hand- bills  laft  referred  tp. 

Making  every  allowance  for  the  perpetrators 

?ind  abettors  of  thefe  horrid  fcenes  at  the  moment, 

F  4  there 


72  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

there  has  been  time  for  reflection  and  compundion 
fince  i  and  the  eyes  of  the  nation,  and  of  all  Europe, 
are  open  to  fee  what  part  both  the  town  and  neigh- 
bourhood, and  above  all  the  government  of  the 
country,  will  take  in  the  cafe.  On  the  part  of  the 
town  and  neighbourhood  nothing  favourable  to 
juftice  has  appeared  as  yet. 

Out  of  feveral  thoufand  rioters  evidence  has 
been  procured  againil  no  more  than  fifty-two.  Of 
thefe  not  fo  many  as  twenty  have  been  apprehended, 
and  of  thefe  only  five  have  been  condemned,  and 
three  executed*.  Inftead  of  promoting  an  inquiry 
concerning  the  inftigators  of  this  mob,  and  cenfur- 
ing  the  manifeft  remifihefs  of  the  magiftrates,  a 
town's  meeting  has  voted  the  latter  thanks  and 
rewards  for  the  part  they  aftedj  and  an  Addrefs 
to  the  King  refleding  more  on  the  Diflenters,  as 
friends  to  innovation,  than  on  the  rioters  f.  The 
whole  town  and  neighbourhood,  therefore,  mull 

*  On  occafion  of  the  riots  in  London,  in  which  it  is  probable  that 
fewer  perfons  were  concerned  than  in  thofe  of  Birmingham,  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  were  tried,  fifty-nine  convi61ed,  and  twenty- fix 
executed  ;  and  I  believe  merely  for  what  they  did  in  the  riots.  Whereas 
it  is  remarkable  that  of  the  very  few  who  weie  convifled  on  occafion 
of  the  riots  in  Birmingham,  all  who  wer';  executed  were  inen  of  noto- 
rious bad  charafter  in  other  refpefls.  And  certainly  the  execution  of 
men  who  were  nniverf.lly  confidered  as  the  pefts  of  fociety,  is  no  pu- 
i\i(liment  for  this  particular  offence,  and  therefore  no  warning  againft 
_the  commiflion  of  the  like ;  fince  it  will  be  concluded,  that  if  men  be 
chargeable  with  nothing  but  deftroying  the  property  of  the  Diflenters, 
they  have  no  punifhment  to  fear.  For  either  tlie  jury  will  not  find 
them  guilty,  or  the  cafe  will  be  lo  reprefented  to  the  king  that  a  pardon 
will  certainly  be  procured. 

f  This  addrefs,  and  alfo  that  of  the  Diflenters,  I  (hall  infert  in  the 
Appendix,  No.  IX.  that  the  abjee^  fpirit  of  the  one  may  be  compared 
with  the  liberal  and  manly  fpirit  of  the  other. 

fall 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  73 

fall  under  the  fufpicion  of  fcreening  the  criminals, 
and  therefore  partaking  in  the  guilt. 

The  clergy,  if  they  had  wifhed  to  walh  their 
hands  of  this  crime,  and  difclaim  the  conduft  of 
thofe  who  call  themfelves  their  friends^  fhould  have 
been  the  firft  to  reprobate  their  proceedings,  and 
to  preach  moderation  and  peace.  Inftead  of  this, 
they  have  been  the  firft  to  calumniate  us,  and  re- 
prefent  the  condu6l  of  the  mob  in  the  moft  fa- 
vourable light.  Since  two  meeting-houfes  were 
deftroyed  on  pretence  of  fupporting  the  churchy  the 
leaft  that  they  could  have  done,  and  the  moft  na- 
tural compenfation  for  the  time,  v/ould  have  been 
to  allow  the  Diifenters  the  ufe  of  their  churches, 
till  the  meeting-houfes  could  have  been  rebuilt. 

This  would  only  have  been  doing,  as  a  com- 
penfation for  an  injury  committed  by  churchmen, 
what  the  Difiejiters  at  Banbury  are  at  this  very 
time  doing  in  favour  of  the  church  of  England, 
while  the  parifh  church  of  that  place  is  rebuilding, 
though  they  had  no  hand  in  pulling  it  down.  There 
are  feveral  places  in  Germany  in  which  the  Catholics 
and  Proteftants  conftantly  make  ufe  of  the  fame 
place  of  public  worfhip.  Such  an  offer  on  the  part 
of  the  clergy,  or  the  bilhop  of  the  diocefe,  would 
have  done  them  the  greateft  credit,  and  have  con- 
tributed very  much  towards  exculpating  them  from 
having  any  fhare  in  the  outrage.  But  this  na- 
tural and  eafy  method,  which  would  have  coft 
them  nothing,  nor  having  been  done,  they  remain 
without  that  exculpation.      The  clergy  alfo,  and 

other 


74  -^n  Appeal  to  the  Public 

other  principal  inhabitants  of  the  tov^n,  if  they  had 
been  properly  fenfible  of  the  injury  done  to  myfelf 
in  particular,  might  have  joined  in  inviting  me 
back  again,  and  doing  every  thing  in  their  power 
to  make  my  re-eftablifhment  fafe  and  eafy. 

On  the  contrary,  I  am  informed  from  various 
quarters,  that  the  inveteracy  againll  me  through 
the  town  in  general,  owing  to  the  moft  atrocious 
calumnies,  and  mifreprefentations,  is  rather  in- 
creafed  than  diminifhed,  andthat  my  return  would 
both  be  hazardous  to  myfelf,  and  augment  thejr 
hollility  *. 

It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  we  have  now  no- 
thing to  expeft  either  from  the  clergy  or  laity  of 
the  town  and  neighbourhood  of  Birmingham,  but 
mull  look  to  the  general  government  of  the  country  j 
and  we  hope  it  will  be  found  that  thence  we  do 
not  look  for  jultice,  adivity,  or  energy,  in  vain. 

Had  the  bifliop  of  the  diocefe  fent  a  proper 
paftoral  letter  to  the  clergy  of  Birmingham,  lament- 
ing the  elFe6ls  of  party  fpirit,  and  efpecially  that 
any  attempts  fhould  have  been  made  to  fupport  a 
chriftian  church  by  fuch  unchriftian  means  as  had 
been  employed  on  that  pretence;  had  he  advifed  an 
immediate  reparation  of  the  wrongs  of  the  Diflen- 
ters,  and  the  doing  every  thing  that  was  in  the  power 
of  the  members  of  the  church  of  England  to  reftore 

*  In  order  to  fee  the  ditferent  fpirit  that  aftuates  diffenting  mini- 
fters,  and  the  generality  of  the  clergy,  with  refpefl  to  the  late  riots,  I 
would  refer  my  reader  to  Mr.  ScholeHeld's  truly  chriftian  Difcourfe  on 
k'ving  our  Enemies,  and  his  fpiiited  and  i\ze\\tVi.i  Preface  to  it. 

the 


On  the  Riots  in  Birtningham.  y^ 

the  peace  of  the  town,  the  inftigators  of  the  riot 
would  before  this  time  have  been  made  afhamed 
of  their  conduc^t,  and  greater  harmony  than  ever 
might  have  taken  place  between  the  members  of 
the  eftablifhed  church  and  the  Diflenters.  But 
though  many  of  his  flock  have  behaved  like  wolves, 
their  conduft  has  not  been  reproved  by  their  paftor, 
at  leaft  in  that  public  manner  which  the  nature  of 
the  cafe  required.  Confidering  the  part  that  many 
of  the  lower  clerg/  have  afted  in  this  bufinefs,  the 
eyes  of  the  country  are  now  upon  the  bifhopsj 
and  their  filence  will  be  conftrued  into  approba- 
tion ;  efpecially  fince  much  of  the  bigotry  of  the 
prefent  times  is  by  many  afcribed  to  their  frequent 
and  inflammatory  charges  againft  the  Diflenters, 
and  efpecially  the  Unitarians,  not  without  plain 
allufions  to  myfelf  in  particular. 

In  the  reigns  of  king  William  and  queen  Ann, 
the  bigotry  of  the  inferior  clergy  was  conftantly 
checked  by  the  greater  liberality  of  the  bifhopsj 
the  lower  houfe  of  convocation  being  controlled 
by  the  upper  houfe.  But  in  this  reign  the  high 
church  fpirit  has  defcended  from  the  fuperior  to 
the  inferior  clergy. 

If  the  fpirit  of  perfecution  proceed  as  it  has 
begun,  unchecked  by  the  fuperior  clergy  of  the 
church  of  England,  I  fliall  not  fcruple  to  fay  of  it, 
as  of  myftical  Babylon  in  the  Revelation  (xvili.  4.) 
Come  out  of  her  my  people^  lejt  ye  be  partakers  of  her 
fins  J  and  that  ye  receive  not  cf  her  plagues.  But  I 
hope,  and  I  know  better  things  of  many  of  them, 

and 


76  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

and  I   have  great  expeftations  from  their  inter- 
ference. 

Of  the  two  parties  in  whofe  names  the  outrages 
at  Birmingham  were  committed,  viz.  the  church 
and  the  king,  the  latter  has,  in  a  great  meafure, 
exculpated  himfelf,  by  his  proclamation  to  appre- 
hend and  punifli  the  rioters.  But  the  former,  the 
boaited  ally  of  the  flate  (and  which,  like  Cardinal 
Wolfey,  always  namxcs  herfelf  before  her  king)  has 
not  hitherto  done  any  thing  in  concurrence  with 
her  ally,  but  has  taken  another  coadjutor.  Hence- 
forth, therefore,  the  cry  Ihould  be  not  church  and 
kingi  but  church  and  mob. 


SECTION    VI. 

Of  the  principal  UJc  of  an  eflaUifhed  Religion. 

1  CANNOT  help  obferving  on  this 
occafion,  that  if  the  flate  be  at  the  expence  of  pro- 
viding the  country  with  religion^  it  fhould  be  chiefly 
for  the  benefit  of  thofe  who  itand  in  the  mod  need 
of  it,  and  who  would  not  provide  any  for  themfelves. 
The  better  fort  of  people,  as  we  call  them,  will  be- 
have orderly  and  peaceably,  which  is  the  great  end 
of  civil  government,  without  it.  But  with  us  the 
lower  claflfes  of  the  community  are  nearly  in  the 
fame  condition  as  if  there  was  no  eftabliflied  reli- 
gion at  all.  If  the  inefficacy  of  an  eftabliflied  re- 
ligion to  correft  the  diforders  of  the  lower  orders 
of  the  people,  as  manifefted  in  the  riots  at  Bir- 
mingham, 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmi?jghajn.  yy 

mingham,  does  not  open  the  eyes  of  this  country 
to  the  true  nature  of  church  eftabhfhmentSj  it  will 
be  difficult  to  fay  what  will,  and  fo  great  and  ferious 
a  lefTon  will  have  been  given  us  in  vain. 

In  confequence  of  the  too  general  neglecfl  of 
the  lower  clafTes  of  people  by  the  minifters  of  the 
eftablifhed  church,  their  profanenefs,  brutality,  and 
licentioufnefs,  exceed  that  of  the  fame  clafs  of 
people  in  any  other  country  whatever,  civilized  or 
uncivilized.  For  thofe  whom  we  cdW/avages  have 
infinitely  more  regard  to  decency,  equity,  and 
civility,  in  their  condu6t,  than  the  untaught  vulgar 
with  us.  What  thefe  learn  from  a  ftate  of  fociety 
are  the  vices  to  which  it  gives  occafion,  and  they 
are  fuch  as  have  no  place. in  what  we  call  the  un- 
civilized part  of  the  world,  becaufe,  in  their  cir- 
cumftances,  there  is  no  temptation  to  them. 

If  therefore,  there  muft  be  a  Jiate  religion y  and 
the  objedl  of  this  religion  be  not  the  emolument  of 
the  teachers  of  it,  or  the  power  of  the  governors  in 
difpofing  of  thofe  emoluments,  but  to  infpire  the 
people  with  a  fenfe  of  their  obligations  to  God  and 
man,  the  moft  exprefs  provifion  fhould  be  made 
for  the  inflru6lion  of  the  lower  orders  of  the  people, 
in  preference  to  that  of  all  others.  The  clergy 
ihould  know  them  all,  and  inflrud:  them  all.  But 
with  us  too  little  of  this  kind  is  done,  nor  does 
there  appear  much  difpofition  towards  it. 

The  greateft  part  of  the  real  advantage  which 
this  country  derives  from  the  religion  of  the  lower 

orders 


78  A?i  Appeal  to  the  Public 

orders  of  the  people  cofts  it  nothing  at  all,  being 
that  which  accrues  to  it  from  the  labours  of  the 
Diffenters  and  Methodifts,  wlio  have  been  the 
means  of  civilizing  and  chriftianizing  fome  of  thofe 
for  whofe  inftruftion  principally  the  eftablifhed 
clergy  are  paid,  but  who  are  too  generally  ne- 
gleded  by  them,  and  are  as  fheep  without  a 
Ihepherd.  The  country  will  fooner  or  later  con- 
fider  the  cut  bcno  of  this  eftablifhment,  as  well  as 
of  every  thing  elfe  in  the  fyftem  for  which  it  fur- 
nifhes  the  expence. 

The  only  thing  that  has  of  late  years  been  done 
in  favour  of  this  greatly  neglefled  part  of  the  com- 
munity, is  the  inilitution  of  Sunday  Schools^  which 
was  the  happy  thought  of  Mr.  Raikes  of  Gloucefler, 
a  member  of  the  church  of  England,  and  which 
was  immediately  patronized  by  the  clergy,  and  the 
members  of  the  church  of  England  in  general. 
But  becaufe  many  of  the  Diflenters  took  them  up 
with  more  zeal  than  they,  and  made  better  provifion 
for  inftrudting  and  rewarding  Sunday  fcholars  (fo 
that  their  fchools  came  into  greater  repute  than  thofe 
of  the  eftablifliment)  feveral  of  the  clergy  have 
taken  umbrage  at  them.  Some  of  them  have  en- 
deavoured to  compel  the  Diflenters  to  drop,  or 
reduce,  their  Sunday  Schools,  and  others  who  pre- 
tend to  more  fagacity  than  the  reft,  now  fay  that 
they  never  approved  of  the  fcheme,  becaufe  they 
forefaw  that  it  would  be  the  means  of  adding  to 
the  number  of  the  Diflfenters,  a  thing  which  they 
evidently  confider  as  a  greater  evil  than  that  fhame- 
ful  ignorance  and  profligacy  of  the  poor,  which  this. 

excellent 


On  the  "Riots  in  Birmingham,  79 

excellent  fcheme  is  calculated  to  remove.   See  Br. 
'Latham's  Letters. 

In  this  cafe  it  fhould  be  confidered  out  of  what 
clafs  of  the  community  is  the  addition  to  the  Dif- 
fenters  made.  Is  it  not  out  of  that  which,  previous 
to  this  meafure,  had  no  religion  at  all  ?  The  clergy 
in  general  are  far  from  adopting  this  unchriftian 
maxim,  and  in  fome  places  they  aft  in  concert  with 
the  Diflenters,  in  a  fcheme  the  objedl  of  which  is 
common  chriftianity,  and  common  utility. 

When  an  account  fhall  be  taken  of  the  advan- 
tages and  di  fad  vantages  of  civil  eftablifhments  of 
religion,  every  injury  done  by  perfecution  fhould  be 
placed  on  the  per  contra  fide.  For  the  different  fedls 
of  DifTenters  in  this  country,  where  there  is  an  efla- 
blifhment,  and  the  different  religious  denominations 
in  North  America,  where  there  is  none,  never  mo- 
left  one  another,  but  live  in  good  neighbourhood 
and  fricndfhip.  It  is  when  one  fe6l  enjoys  temporal 
advantages  from  which  the  refl  are  excluded,  that 
a  bone  of  contention  is  thrown  among  them ;  and 
then  the  envy  of  the  depreffed  party,  but  much 
more  the  jealoufy  and  fpirit  of  domination,  the 
natural  offspring  of  fower,  in  the  party  that  is  fa- 
voured, may  do  infinite  mifchief.  For  the  fpirit  of 
church  eftablifliments,  which  is  ever  jealous  and 
vindiftive,  is  not  peculiar  to  them.  It  is  the  fpirit 
not  of  religion  in  particular,  but  of  all  monopolies. 
Nor  are  the  clergy  fo  much  to  be  complained  of. 
Men  in  general  are  the  fame.  They  ^VQfyJiems  and 
injiitutions,  that  corrupt  mankind. 


So  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

In  all  thofe  who  have  pofleflion  of  power, 
there  too  eafily  arifes  the  idea,  that  what  cannot 
be  accomplilhed  by  argument  in  favour  of  their 
fyftem,  may  be  effedled  with  much  more  eafe  and 
certainty  by  external  force.  Hence,  inftead  of  an- 
fwering  our  books,  the  members  of  the  church  of 
England  at  Birmingham,  have  burned  them,  to- 
gether with  our  houfes  and  places  of  public  wor- 
Ihip.  If  fuch  a  proceeding  as  this  either  breaks 
the  fpirit,  or  lefTens  the  number,  of  Diflenters,  it 
will  be  the  firft  experiment  of  the  kind  that  has 
fucceeded.  But  the  heroic  aftors  in  this  bufinefs 
probably  never  heard  that  any  fuch  experiment 
had  ever  been  tried  before. 

I  fhall  conclude  this  article  with  obferving,  that 
.it  is  ufual  to  praife  every  exifting  reign,  as  great 
and  glorious,  and  to  afcribe  every  thing  that  the 
age  produces  to  the  prince  upon  the  throne.  But 
whatever  other  advantages  have  accrued  to  this 
country  during  the  prefent  reign,  I  will  venture  to 
fay  that,  if  the  defpicable  fpirit  of  bigotry  and  into- 
lerance continue  to  prevail,  unchecked  by  govern- 
ment, as  it  has  done  of  late  years,  it  will  (confider- 
ing  the  increafing  light  of  the  age  in  every  other 
country  in  Europe)  be  one  of  the  mod  dilgrace- 
ful  in  the  annals  of  Britain.  There  was  fome- 
thing  plaufible  in  the  perfecution  of  chriftians  by 
heathens,  and  in  that  of  Proteftants  by  Catholics, 
becaufe  they  introduced  great  innovations,  and 
great  and  unknown  confequences  were  dreaded 
from  them.     They  were  religions  of  yefterday 

overturning 


Of2  the  Rtofs  hi  Birmmgham.  8 1 

overturning  eftabliihments  of  the  remotell:  anti- 
quity. But  the  perfecution  of  one  feft  of  Protef- 
tants  by  another,  all  equally  novelties,  and  very 
much  refembling  one  another,  is  nothing  better 
than  the  mutual  perfecution  of  the  Sonnites  and 
Shiites  in  Mahomedan  countries,  or  than  that  of 
the  Littleendians  of  Lilliput  by  the  Bigendians, 

A  great  number  'of  the  clergy,  however,  are 
men  of  other  minds.  They  are  fenfible  of  the 
abufes  of  their  fyftem,  and  earneftly  wifh  for  a 
reform.  They  refpedt  the  Diffenters,  and  are  al- 
ways ready  to  afl  in  concert  with  them,  wherever 
humanity  or  common  chriflianity  is  concerned. 
Thefe  are  generally  called  low  churchmen y  while 
thofe  of  the  high  church  -party,  which  is  certainly 
greatly  encreafed  of  late  years,  are  ftrenuous  advo- 
cates for  continuing  every  thing  as  it  is,  and  op- 
pofing  all  innovation,  that  is,  every  reform.  They 
hate,  and  they  dread,  all  Diffenters,  except  the 
quietefl  among  them,  who  neither  fpeak  nor  write 
any  thing  on  the  fubjedl  of  their  difTent,  and 
who,  like  all  other  Dififenters,  generally  pay  them 
better,  and  more  chearfully,  than  their  other  pa- 
rifhioners.  Such  Diffenters  as  thefe  they  might 
not  be  very  forry  to  fee  increafe. 


SECTION 


82  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 


SECTION    VII. 

Of  the  Importance  of  a  good  Police  in  a  well  con- 
flituted  State, 

W  E  may  learn  from  the  late  riots 
in  Birmingham,  as  well  as  from  thofe  in  London 
in  1780,  the  neceflity  of  having  a  force  always 
ready  to  repel  an  undifciplined  mob.  On  either 
of  thefe  occafions,  twenty  men  armed  with  muf- 
quets,  and  only  a  general  knowledge  of  the  ufe  of 
them,  would  at  any  time  have  difperfed  the  rioters. 
And  how  eafy  would  it  be  to  have  many  times 
this  fmall  force  in  conftant  readinefs  in  every  town 
and  parifh  in  the  kingdom,  without  having  re- 
courfe  to  a  fianding  army,  at  the  command  of  the 
crown  only,  which  is  the  bane  of  all  free  flates. 
Let  all  the  reputable  inhabitants  of  any  town,  or 
parifh,  be  provided  with  fire  arms,  and  exercifed 
in  the  ufe  of  them,  and  no  riots  would  ever  be 
attempted. 

What  objeflion  any  wife  and  juft  government 
can  have  to  this  meafure,  I  do  not  fee ;  and  with- 
out a  provifion  of  this  kind,  we  are  difappointed 
v/ith  refpeft  to  the  principal  advantage  that  a  ftate 
of  fociet^  and  government  holds  out  to  us,  which 
is  protedlion  from  lawlefs  violence,  and  the  benefit 
of  a  fair  trial  for  any  offences  of  which  we  are 

accufed. 


On  the  Riots  in  Birminghmn,         83 

accufed.  While  men  offend  againft  n(5  law,  they 
lliould  enjoy  the  proteflion  of  the  law,  and  if  they 
do  offend,  they  flioiild  be  tried  and  punilhed  ac- 
cording to  law.  This  is  the  firft  rule  in  all  civil 
Ibciety,  and  yet  in  this  country  there  is  at  this 
moment  a  too  general  exultation,  that  this  rule 
has  been  violated  in  the  cafe  of  the  Diffenters  in 
general,  and  of  myfelf  in  particular,  though  we 
have  done  no  injury  to  fociety  whatever. 

It  is  fomething  extraordinary  that  perfons  ufed 
to  a  ftatc  of  law  and  government  fhould  not  be 
ftruck  with  the  impropriety  of  making  a  mob 
both  the  judges,  and  executioners,  of  law,  and  that 
in  a  ftate  of  intoxication,  when  they  are  not  capable 
of  hearing  any  reafon.  In  the  prefent  cafe,  on  the 
fimple  affertion  of  fome  malicious  perfon,  that  I 
drank  no  church  no  king^  and  the  king's  head  in  a 
charger,  at  a  place  where  I  was  not  prefent,  and 
that  I  was  the  author  of  a  hand-bill  which  I  had 
barely  heard  of,  I  am  inftantly,  without  examina- 
tion of  myfelf,  or  my  accufer,  expofed  to  fuffer 
infinitely  more  than  I  fhould  have  done  if  1  had 
been  adually  guilty  of  all  thefe  offences,  and  the 
whole  charge  had  been  proved  in  a  court  of  law. 
For  that  could  only  have  amounted  to  fine  and 
imprifonment.  It  would  not  have  involved  the  in- 
nocent labours  of  my  pad  life.  The  fentence  of 
the  law  would  not  have  been  the  burning  of  my 
houfe,  without  giving  me  an  opportunity  of  re- 
moving any  thing  out  of  it,  the  deftrudion  of  my 
library,  apparatus,  and  manufcripts. 

G  2  Suppofmg 


84  -^^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

Suppofing  the  Diflenters  Ihould  have  had  recourfe 
to  fimilar  methods  of  revenge,  which  would  have 
been  more  juftifiable,  as  not  having  been  the  ag- 
grejfors.,  and  have  burned  church  for  church,  houfe 
for  houfe,  library  for  library,  &c.  &c.  into  what  a 
ilate  of  anarchy,  worfe  than  civil  war,  would  the 
whole  country  have  been  thrown.  The  worft  that 
my  enemies  can  fay  of  me  is  that  I  wifh  to  fet  up 
a  republican  form  of  government;  but  this  is  at 
leaft  fome  form  of  government,  whereas  thofe  who 
planned,  and  dire6led,  the  proceedings  at  Birming- 
ham, went  by  no  fort  of  government  at  all ;  having 
adopted  the  very  meafures  which  all  governments 
whatever  were  intended  to  guard  againft*. 

Since  the  Diflenters  are  clearly  innocent  of 
what  has  been  fo  generally  laid  to  their  charge, 
and  for  which  they  have  fufi^ered  fo  feverely,  we 
may  apply  to  their  cafe  the  proverb   ufed  on  a 


*  Some,  however,  take  it  for  granted,  that  by  a  republican  form 
of  government,  is  meant  no  government  at  all,  but  to  leave  all  people 
at  liberty  to  a6l  as  they  pleafed,  from  the  impulfe  of  the  moment. 
Thus  the  Ghoft  in  the  poem  from  Chefter  is  made  to  fay, 

"  How  couldft  thou  preach  that  mobs  might  rule." 

A  writer  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  September,  1791,  p.  191, 
whofe  fignature  is  Oedipus,  fays  of  me,  "  His  own  engine  the  mob, 
"  which  he  vainly  imagined  he  could  wield  with  ability,  and  with 
"  which  he  has  in  the  prefent  inftance  threatened  the  eftablifhment  of 
"  his  country,  has  at  laft  recoiled  upon  him  with  ten-fold  violence. 
*'  That  Dr.  Prieftley  has  done  all  in  his  power  to  ftir  up  the  people 
*'  in  oppofition  to  government,  is  a  faft  eafdy  proved."  That  Mr. 
Nichols,  a  man  who  has  fome  pretentions  to  literature,  fhould  fuffer 
this  publication,  which  goes  into  the  hands  of  mod  men  of  letters,  to 
be  the  hackneyed  vehicle  of  fuch  impudent  and  malicious  falfehoods, 
againft  a  perfon  in  my  fituation,  will  to  many  appear  extraordinary. 
But  he  ranks  with  high  churchmen,  and  on  fuch,  in  the  cafe  of  Dif- 
fenters,  juftice  and  humanity  feera  to  have  np  claim. 

fimilar 


0«  the  Riots  in  Birmi?2gham.         S5 

fimllar  occafion  by  our  Saviour  (who,  however, 
was  not  punifhed  without  the  form  of  law,  and  the 
authority  of  the  chief  niagiftrate)  If  thefe  things 
be  done  in  the  green  treCy  what  jhall  he  done  in  the 
dry.  If  the  innocent  fuffer  thus  much,  what  have 
the  guilty  to  expedt  ? 

It  was  a  blind  and  furious  zeal  for  the  law,  the 
eflablifhed  religion  of  the  country,  a  religion  ap- 
pointed by  God  himfelf,  and  the  lawlefs  violences 
to  which  their  zeal  led  thofe  of  the  Jews  who  were 
termed  zealots,  that  preceded,  and  brought  on,  the 
deftru6tion  of  Jerufalemj  and  thofe  zealots  were 
not  more  blind  and  furious  than  the  friends  of  the 
church  of  England  at  Birmingham,  and  in  many 
other  parts  of  this  country.  Let  thofe  of  them 
who  are  able,  read  Jofephus,  and  take  warning. 

The  number  of  fuch  defperate  and  profligate 
wretches  in  this  country  as  were  inftigated  to  law- 
lefs havoc  and  plunder,  on  the  pretence  of  fupport- 
ing  the  church  and  ilate,  at  Birmingham,  and  who 
will  be  equally  ready  to  plunder  on  any  other  pre- 
tence, almoft  exceeds  belief,  and  we  have  more  to 
dread  from  them  than  from  all  our  other  evils  put 
together.     Indeed,  they  all  point  to  this. 

Whenever  the  difficulties  of  this  country  fhall 
encreafe,  fo  that  thefe  people  can  neither  be  em- 
ployed, nor  fed,  (and  from  more  caufes  than  one 
we  draw  nearer  to  this  fituation  every  day)  every 
great  town  in  England,  if  no  provifion  be  made 

againft 


86  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

agalnfl  it,  may  be  expected  to  exhibit  fuch  fcenes 
as  Birmingham  has  lately  done,  and  as  London  did 
in  the  year  1780;  when  the  labour  of  ages  may  be 
fwept  away  in  a  day,  and  this  whole  country,  at 
prefent  the  pride  of  the  world,  may  become  a  fcene 
of  general  defolation.  It  has  within  itfelf  the  ample 
feeds  of  fuch  calamity,  in  the  prodigious  number  of 
the  ignorant,  the  profligate,  and  the  profane  part  of 
the  lower  orders  of  the  community,  whom  the  im- 
policy of  our  foor  laws  chiefly,  has  rendered  utterly 
averfe  to  labour  and  economy,  to  a  degree  far  below 
that  of  any  of  the  brute  creation.  Our  common 
foldiers  are  chiefly  of  this  clafs,  and  cafes  may  arife, 
in  which  little  dependence  can  be  placed  upon  them, 
for  preferving  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the 
kingdom. 

The  efl:abliflied  clergy  give  little  attention  to 
the  morals  of  this  mod  depraved  part  of  the  com- 
munity; nor  indeed  is  it  in  their  power  to  do  much. 
But  the  cafe  requires  the  immediate  attention  of 
government,  if  our  fl:atefmen  mean  to  do  any  thing 
more  than  put  ofl^  the  evil  day  from  their  own  times, 
contenting  themfelves  with  temporary  expedients, 
inftead  of  fubftantial  remedies. 

If  our  lives  and  properties  are  to  be  at  the 
mercy  of  the  mob,  which  may  rife,  and  commit  its 
premeditated  ravages,  without  giving  us  any  warn- 
ing; and  if  there  be  no  redrefs  but  in  a  military 
force,  and  that  frequently  at  a  confiderable  diftance; 
if  this  redrefs  depend  on  the  arbitrary  will  of  the 

crown  i 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  87 

crown;  let  any  perfon  fay  in  what  our  condition 
differs  from  that  of  perfedt  defpotifm-y  our  imperfedt 
fecurity  from  the  greateft  injuries  arifing  not  from 
•  law,  and  regular  government,  but  from  arbitrary  will. 
It  would  be  a  government  in  the  ftrifteft  fenfe  of 
the  word  military,  and  much  worfe  than  that  which 
is  ufually  fo  called  j  becaufe  in  it  there  is  at  leaft 
fome  known  mode  of  proceeding. 

Such,  however,  is  the  prefent  fituation  of  this 
country,  that  there  appears  to  be  no  effedtuai 
remedy  for  this  great  evil,  but  in  voluntary  aflb- 
ciations  for  felf-defence ;  and  this  is  little  lefs  than 
fuperadding  a  new  government,  at  a  great  expence, 
to  fupply  the  defeats  of  an  old  one,  which  is  already 
the  moft  expenfive  in  the  world.  It  is  fo  far  from 
being  improper,  or  illegal,  for  men  to  defend 
themfelves,  and  their  property,  from  lawlefs  vio- 
lence, by  any  fufficient  means,  fire-arms  not  ex- 
cepted, that  it  is  highly  commendable  to  do  it. 
See  Sir  William  Jones's  excellent  tradl  on  The 
legal  Method  of  Jufprejfing  Riots, 

In  the  riots  at  Birmingham  relief  was  fent  as 
foon  as  poflible,  the  expedition  of  the  troops  was 
extraordinary;  and  thanks  were  certainly  due  to 
thofe  who  adluallv  faved  the  town,  and  efpecially 
the  DiiTc^nters  in  it,  from  total  deftrudion.  £ut 
had  government  been  rennfs,  or  the  troops  tardy  j 
nay,    had   the  expreffes    been  delayed,    as    they 

might 


88  An  Appeal  to  the  Public  « 

might  have  been,  by  accident :  and  if,  from  any  of 
thefe  caufes,  the  fury  of  the  mob  had  continued  un- 
reftrained  a  fingle  day  longer  (in  which  cafe  it  is 
the  general  opinion  that  the  town  would  have  been 
on  fire)  where  could  have  been  the  remedy,  when 
fuch  a  town  as  Birmingham,  and  the  manufaftures 
of  it,  had  been  loft  to  the  kingdom?  Should  the 
fafety  of  a  wile  nation  depend  upon  refources  fo 
precarious  as  thefe  ? 

Let  thofe  who  are  not  difpleafed  with  mobs 
when  they  think  that  they  only  execute  fummary 
juftice  on  thofe  whom  the  laws  cannot  reach,  con- 
fider  how  hazardous  a  weapon  they  wilh  to  employ, 
and  how  difficult  it  is  to  dire£t  it.  None  of 
thofe  who  promo  Led  the  riots  in  Birmingham  had, 
I  am  perfuaded,  any  intention  that  the  mifchief 
fhould  have  proceeded  fo  far  as  it  did  j  and  I  fhould 
not  wonder  if  the  time  come  when  the  fame  lawlefs 
rabble,  who  lately  fliouted  Church  and  king^  fliould 
take  up  the  cry  of  No  church,  no  king,  or  at  leaft 
that  of  No  game  laws,  no  tythes,  no  excj/e.  Nothing 
is  wanting  but  an  artful  leader. 

Who  does  not  recolleft  how  the  tide  of  popular 
favour  has  turned  both  with  refpeft  to  our  prefent 
fovereign,  and  the  prefent  king  of  France.  No 
princes  ever  came  to  their  crowns  with  more  ge- 
neral popularity.  But  in  a  few  years  the  cafe  was 
fo  much  the  reverfe  in  this  country,  that  the  king 

conftantly 


On  the  Riots  in  Bii^mingham,  89 

conftantly  went  abroad,  if  not  annidft  the  hifTes 
(which  was  fometimes  the  cafe)  yet  with  the  moft 
marked  and  difrefpeflfui  filence,  of  the  people  in 
general*.  The  cafe  is  now  happily  reverfed,  and 
the  prefent  reign  is  likely  to  clofe  with  as  much 
popularity  as  it  began, 

"Who  was  ever  more  idolized  than  the  prefent 
king  of  France,  and  yet  what  was  not  thought,  and 
openly  faid  of  him,  on  his  late  return  to  Paris  ?  / 
And  he  is  now  likely  to  be  more,  and  more  juftly, 
popular  than  ever.  Both  thefe  princes,  however, 
are,  no  doubt,  the  very  fame  that  they  ever  were. 
The  change  has  been  in  the  people,  and  in  their 
ideas  of  them. 

The  late  king  of  France  was  almoft  idolized  at 
the  time  of  his  illnefs  at  Rheims.  Had  he  been 
literally  the  father  of  every  family  in  the  nation, 
they  could  not  have  appeared  to  feel  more  for  him 
than  they  did.  Yet  though  there  was  little  change 
in  his  principles  or  condudl,  into  what  univerfal 
contempt  did  he  fink  before  he  died.     Wife  men 

*  I  never  faw  a  greater  croud  on  any  occafion  than  on  the  king's 
once  going  through  St.  James's  park  to  the  houfe  of  Peers,  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  American  war,  and  becaufe  one  man,  probably  from 
the  country,  pulled  off  his  hat  as  the  coach  paffed  clofe  to  him,  he  was 
very  near  being  knocked  down  for  it  by  thofe  who  were  next  to  him. 
It  was  the  conftant  cnftom  for  years  to  let  the  king's  chair  pafs  without 
any  notice,  at  the  fame  time  that  every  perfon  put  off  his  hat  in  the 
moft  refpe(5lfu]  manner  to  the  queen.  When,  as  by  a  kind  of  irrefiftible 
impulfe,  I  was  at  one  time  going  to  pull  off  mine  to  the  king,  the  perfon 
I  was  walking  with,  perceiving  that  I  was  putting  up  my  hand  for  that 
purpofe,  checked  me,  by  faying  that  if  I  did,  I  (hould  certainly  be  in- 
fulted. 

will 


90  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

will  refled  on  thefe  things,  and  the  caufes  of  them ; 
and  from  the  changes  that  have  taken  place,  they 
will  not  be  furprized  at  any  others  of  the  fame 
kind,  as  great,  and  as  fudden. 


SECTION    viir. 

^he  Impolicy  of  checking  ths  natural  Exprejfion  of 
Men's  Setttiments, 

^O  many  leffons  as  hiftory  holds  out  to 
us  of  the  kind,  I  cannot  help  exprefling  fome  fur- 
prize,  that  the  pretended  friends  of  our  govern- 
ment fliould  endeavour  to  fupprefs  the  natural 
ebullition  of  men's  minds  by  fpeaking,  writing,  or 
public  entertainments.  No  attempts  of  this  kind 
can  prevent  men's  thinking.  Nay,  thefe  meafures 
have  never  failed  to  make  men  think  the  more, 
and  the  fooner  to  have  recourfe  to  other  methods 
of  exprefling  their  fentiments,  infinitely  more  haz- 
ardous to  the  public  peace. 

What  did  the  late  government  of  France  gain 
by  the  molt  rigorous  meafures  of  this  kind,  re- 
ftraining  all  liberty  of  the  prefs,  and  preventing,  as 
far  as  power  could  do  it,  all  the  ufual  modes  of 
exprefling  men's  fentiments  ?  In  thefe  circum.- 
^^ncQS,  prohibited  hooks  ^\^  infinitely  more  mifchief, 

as 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.         g  i 

as  it  would  be  called,  than  any  that  could  have 
been  publifhed;  and  private  converfation,  in  this 
ftate  of  reftralnt,  did  more  mifchief  than  any  books 
whatever.  For  the  Revolution,  as  is  evident,  found 
the  whole  nation,  thofe  who  could  not  read,  as  well 
as  thofe  who  could,  fully  ripe  for  the  change ;  while 
to  thofe  who  were  unacquainted  with  the  natural 
progrefs  of  things,  there  feemed  to  be  an  inflanta- 
neous,  and  almoft  miraculous,  tranfition,  from  ido- 
lizing their  kings,  to  a  contempt  and  deteftation  of 
kingly  government,  till,  on  farther  refiedion,  they 
acquiefced  in  the  prefent  medium. 

On  the  other  hand,  Englifhmen,  being  ufed  to 
write  and  to  fpeak  freely,  and  to  have  convivial 
meetings  whenever  they  pleafed,  are  generally  con- 
tent with  giving  vent  to  their  fentiments  in  thefe 
ways,  and  never  think  of  any  thing  farther.  But  if 
this  outlet  to  their  natural  feelings  be  lliut,  they 
will  certainly  find  fome  other,  much  more  alarm- 
ing, than  dinners,  toafts,  and  fongs.  It  may  be  like 
the  flopping  the  mouth  of  a  volcano,  the  confe- 
quence  of  which  would  be  the  convulfion  of  all 
the  country.  If  there  is  to  be  a  revolution  in  this 
country,  fimilar  to  that  which  has  taken  place  in 
France  (though  our  fituation  is  fuch  as  by  no  means 
to  require  it)  attempts  to  deter  men  by  illegal  vio- 
lence from  doing  what  the  law  does  not  forbid, 
will,  I  am  confident,  bring  it  on  in  half  the  time. 
Men,  who  do  not  like  to  be  infulied,  will  at  length 
be  piepared  to  refill  violence  by  violence;  and 
from  fuch  accidental  and  inconfiderate  fparks  as 

thefe 


92  A)!  Appeal  to  the  Public 

thefe,  a  civil  war  may  be  lighted  up,  and  confe- 
quences  may  follow  which  the  wifeft  among  us 
cannot  forefee. 

They  who  take  any  ferious  umbrage  at  fuch 
meetings  as  thofe  for  the  celebration  of  the  French 
Revolution,  throw  the  greatell  refieftion  on  the 
prefent  reign,  and  moft  endanger  the  prefent  happy 
tranquility  of  it.  For  it  is  to  reprefent  it  as  no 
better  than  the  reign  of  Tiberius,  a  reign  of  uni- 
verfal  fufpicion,  and  of  real  dangers  arifing  from 
imaginary  ones.  That  government  muft  be  con- 
fcious  of  its  extreme  weaknefs,  or  be  actuated  by 
the  moft  wanton  cruelty,  that  can  ferioufly  refent 
fuch  trifling  infults  as  thefe,  admitting,  what  is  by 
no  means  true,  that  they  were  intended  for  infults. 

The  wifeft,  and  in  all  refpe6ts  the  beft  method, 
is  to  indulge  men  in  the  freeft  exprefTion  of  their 
natural  fentiments,  and  even  to  encourage  the  fulleft 
difcufTicn  of  all  topics,  of  a  civil  as  well  as  of  a  re- 
ligious nature,  in  order  that  one  opinion  and  one 
reafon  may  combat  another,  and  that  all  truth, 
religious,  philofophical,  or  political,  may  prevail, 
and  eftablifti  itfelf,  without  obftruflion.  By  this 
gende  and  generous  proceeding,  no  convulfion  will 
ever  happen  in  any  ftate.  The  public  opinion  will 
thus  be  formed  gradually,  and  have  its  natural  and 
eafy  operation,  producing  changes  as  they  are 
wanted;  and  grievances  will  not  be  permitted  to 
accumulate,  till  the  mafs  fliall  be  fo  great,  as  to 
force  its  way  through  all  oppofition, 

This 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  9^ 

This  maxim  is  equally  true  with  refpefb  to  the 
church,  or  the  ftate.  If  the  clergy  made  no  oppo- 
fition  to  the  encreafing  light  of  the  age,  but  would 
themfelves  fpeculate  freely  on  every  fubjeft  relating 
to  their  own  fituation,  and  that  of  the  country,  no- 
thing would  ever  hurt  any  individual  of  them. 
Should  the  confequence  of  this  free  difcufiion,  and 
gradual  change  in  the  pubhc  mind,  be  the  abolition 
of  tythes,  they  would  not  be  lofers  by  it ;  becaufe, 
if  they  themfelves  fhould  heartily  concur  in  the 
meafure,  fome  better,  and  no  lefs  ample,  provifion 
would  be  made  for  them.  Should  they  allow  a 
revifion  of  the  public  creeds,  articles,  and  liturgy, 
the  prefent  fubfcriprion  might  be  dropped,  and  any 
other  alteration  made,  without  affeding  their  reve- 
nues, or  the  general  fyftem. 

Should  the  clergy  proceed  a  ftep  farther,  and 
acknowledge  that  the  feat  of  the  bifhops  in  the 
houfe  of  Lords  (which  had  no  other  origin  than  the 
now  antiquated  feudal  fyftem)  was  unfuitable  to 
their  fpiritual  charadler;  and  of  their  own  accord 
withdraw  themfelves  from  Parliament,  it  would 
be  with  a  dignity  which  would  eftablilh  them 
in  the  good-will  of  the  people,  and  preferve  their 
rank  in  other  refpefts,  for  ages. 

But  by  proceeding  on  their  prefent  plan  of  a 
dread  of  all  innovation^  and  altering  nothing,  not- 
withftanding  the  increafing  light  of  the  age,  they 
lead  many  perfons  to  conclude,  that  they  are  deter- 
mined to  hear  no  reafon,  and  that,  from  a  regard 

to 


94  ^^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

to  their  temporal  honours  and  emoluments  only, 
they  wilfully  Hiut  their  ears  to  the  cleareft  voice  of 
truth. 

By  this  means  the  whole  fyilem  of  the  civil 
eftablilhment  of  chriftianity  will  be  fufpefted  to  be 
irreconcilable  to  the  caufe  of  religious  truth,  and 
civil  liberty;  and  on  the  firft  great  change  in  the 
Hate  of  public  affairs,  there  will  be  fome  hazard  of 
the  country  rejecting  it  as  a  nuifance,  without  fub- 
ftituting  any  thing  in  its  place. 

It  is  eafy  to  make  fimiliar  remarks  with  refpeft 
to  the  fyftem  of  civil  government.  A  more  equal 
reprefentation  of  the  commons  in  Parliament  is 
moft  evidently  wanted;  and  if  this,  and  other  ne- 
ceffary  reforms,  be  long  withheld,  the  whole  fyftem 
will  be  endangered,  though  it  is  not  eafy  to  forefee 
in  what  manner  the  danger  will  come,  or  how  far 
the  evil  attending  a  fudden  change  of  fyftem,  in  a 
fituation  fo  critical  and  complicated  as  ours,  will 
extend. 


SECTION- 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  95' 


SECTION    IX. 

Confiderations  relating  to  Perfecutioriy  and  the  Con- 
Jequences  of  it, 

JVlANY  of  the  friends  of  the  church, 
as  they  are  called,  freely  indulge  themfelves  in  re- 
joicing at  the  calamities  of  the  diflenting  fiifferers 
at  Birmingham,  without  having  any  idea  of  their 
being  aftuated  by  a  fpirit  oi ferfecution.  This  fpirit, 
it  is  fomething  remarkable,  all  who  have  ever  per- 
fecuted  have  difclaimed  j  thinking  their  condu(5t 
abundantly  juftified  by  the  difpofition,  and  behaviour, 
of  the  fufFerers  \  and  it  has  almoft  always  been  pre- 
tended, that  thefe  have  been  punifhed  not  for  their 
opinion s,  but  for  difiiirhing  the  fiat e. 

This  was  conftantly  alleged  by  all  the  heathen 
perlecutors.  Though  the  Chriftians  were  the  moft 
innocent  and  peaceable  of  men,  they  were  con- 
fidered  as  enemies  of  the  Roman  government,  and 
punifhed  as  for  civil  offences.  The  Catholics  alfo, 
at  the  time  of  the  reformation,  treated  herefy  as 
a  thing  that  was  dangerous  to  the  civil  power, 
and  thus  were  influenced  by  political,  as  well 
as  religious  confiderations.  Both  Philip  II.  and 
Lewis  XIV.  thought  Proteftants  to  be  had  fubje5iSy 
whofe  aim  it  was  to  make  difturbance  in  the  ftate , 
and  this   is   precifely   the  chara6ler  under  which 

the 


g6  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

the  zealots  of  the  church  of  England  are  continually 
exhibiting  the  Diflenters.  Though  it  is  unqueftion- 
able,  that  the  DilTenters  in  the  late  reigns  were  the 
beft  friends  of  the  family  on  the  throne,  and  the 
clergy  in  general  difafFefted  to  It,  wifhing,  and  not 
very  fecretly,  for  the  re-eflablilhment  of  the  Stuarts, 
they  now  have  the  aflurance  to  charge  us  with  dif- 
afFedlion.  And  with  the  idea,  however  abfurd,  that 
what  they  do  is  purely  defenfivcy  and  merely  to 
prevent  injury  to  themfelves  (who  they  muft  know 
are  placed  far  beyond  the  reach  of  our  -power ^  if  it 
was  our  wijh,  to  hurt  them)  would  without  re- 
morfe  be  guilty  of  every  outrage  upon  our  pro- 
perty, and  our  perfons  too,  that  the  heathens  and 
Catholics  ever  gave  into. 

Our  Saviour  apprized  his  difciples  that  they 
who  killed  them  would  think  they  did  God  Jervice. 
Paul  thought  that  he  did  right  in  perfecuting  the 
chriflians,  even  unto  death,  and  the  bigoted  Jews 
in  general  perfecuted  through  ignorance.  But  were 
they,  therefore,  innocent?  And  did  not  the  juft 
judgments  of  God  overtake  that  infatuated  nation 
on  this  very  account?  There  is  a  kind  of  ignorance 
that  is  highly  criminal,  arifing  not  only  from  neg- 
le6t  of  making  enquiry,  which  itfelf  arifes  from 
criminal  prejudice,  but  from  a  fecret  malignity  of 
temper,  which  conceals  itfelf  under  the  notion  of 
zeal  for  religion. 

That  perfons  frequently  miftake  the  real  mo- 
tives of  their  own  conduct,  and  thereby  form  a 

wrong 


On  the  Riots  at  Birmingham,  97 

wrong  judgment  of  their  own  charaders,  is  noto- 
rious. What  man  ever  thought  himfelf  to  be  co- 
vetous, though  all  the  world  faw  him  to  be  fo  in 
the  extreme  ?  Or  what  man  ever  thought  himfelf 
proud,  and  yet  pride  is  certainly  not  banifhed  from 
the  world  ?  Nay,  did  ever  any  man,  except  in  re- 
flefting  on  his  condu6t  afterwards,  think  himfelf 
a  bad  hufband,  a  bad  father,  or  a  bad  mafter? 
And  yet  there  certainly  are  fuch  charafters.  Men 
always  find  excufes  for  their  own  condu(5t. 

Can  we  wonder  then,  that  no  man  ever  thought 
himfelf  to  be  a  perfecutor  ?  And  is  it  not,  there- 
fore, very  pofTible,  that  the  church  of  England  may 
be  in  a  high  degree  intolerant  and  perfecuting, 
without  acknowledging,  or  even  feeing  it.  But  the 
^ueftion  is,  whether,  notwithftanding  this  good 
opinion  of  herfelf,  fhe  be  not  truly  fo,  and  whether 
Ihe  be  not  liable  to  the  juft  judgments  of  God  on  that 
account.  Let  the  members  of  this  church  examine 
themfelves  on  this  head ;  and  for  this  purpofe  I  (hall 
take  the  liberty  to  furnifh  them  with  a  few  queries, 
arifing  from  the  prefent  circumftances  of  things. 

Did  they  not,  previous  to  the  riots  in  Bir- 
mingham, wifli  myfelf,  and  other  oppofers  of  the 
do6lrine  of  the  trinity,  to  be  filenced  by  other 
means  than  by  argument  ?  Several  of  thofe  who 
engaged  in  public  controverfy  with  me  on  this 
fubjed  gave  fufficient  intimation  of  their  wifh  for 
the  interpofition  of  the  civil  power,  and  I  doubt 
not  lamented  that  the  circumftances  of  the  times 

H  were 


98  An  Appeal  to  the  "Public 

were  unfavourable  to  fuch  a  mode  of  filencing  us. 
And  what  is  perfecution,  but  the  application  of 
force  in  the  place  of  argument  ? 

Did  thofe  who  exclaimed  the  moft  againft  us  fo 
much  as  read  our  writings  ?  It  is  well  known 
that,  when  the  quefticn  has  been  put  to  many  of 
them,  they  have  not  only  anfwered  in  the  nega- 
tive, but  have  even  expreffed  a  kind  of  horror  at 
the  propofal,  and  have  ftrongly  diffuaded  others 
from  reading.  Now  what  is  this  but  a  proof  of 
extreme  bigotry  ?  And  is  not  bigotry  the  natural 
parent  of  intolerance  and  perfecution  ? 

Did  not  great  numbers  of  the  clergy  exprefs  a 
real  fatisfaftion  in  the  riots,  when  they  heard  that 
the  meeting-  houfes,  and  every  thing  belonging  to 
myfelf,  were  deftroyed ;  and  would  they  have  been 
forry  if  I  had  perifhed  too,  manifeflly  illegal  and 
unjuft  as  this  method  of  obtaining  their  end  was  ? 
The  cleigyman  who  openly  expreffed  the  fatisfac- 
tion  he  fhould  have  in  burning  me  alive  was,  I  am 
informed,  one  of  the  weaker  of  his  brethren,  but  I 
doubt  not,  he  expreffed  the  real  fentiments  of  many 
others*.  Now  every  perfon  who  was  not  dif- 
pleafed  with  the  ad,  is,  in  the  eye  of  reafon  and  of 


*  How  far  the  ideas  of  fome  perfons  went  on  this  occafion  may 
be  feen  in  the  following  paper  written  in  a  large  print-hand,  and  found 
at  Beiconsfield.  "  It  is  ronfi^iently  reported  from  Birmingham  and 
*<  London,  that  fliould  the  Diflenters  aitempt  any  thing  farther  againft 
**  t'le  king,  church,  or  ftate,  they  will  provoke  the  true  patriot-re- 
**  fenf»nent,  and  nothing  lefs  will  difpenfe  or  fatisfy  them,  but  the  ex- 
*'  tiip;ft!0)i  of  the  whole  race  of  Diffenterafrom  this  kingdom,  or  total 
*'  deftruftion  to  a  man." 

God, 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  gg 

God,  an  abettor  of  it,  and  a  partaker  of  the  guilt. 
I  therefore  leave  it  to  the  confciences  of  the  clergy 
in  general,  and  at  leaft  thofe  who  clafs  with  the, high 
church  party,  whether  this  was  not  their  cafe,  and 
confequently  whether  they  ought  not  to  clafs  with 
perfecutors.  Little  do  many  of  the  clergy  know 
what  fpirit  they  are  really  of,  or  to  what  degrees  of 
violence  their  principles,  or  tempers,  would  lead 
them.  It  is  not  neceffary,  in  order  to  be  perfe- 
cutors, that  they  themfelves  commit  a6ts  of  vio- 
lence. They  Ihould  be  forry  for  them,  and  endea- 
vour to  prevent  them. 

Perfecution  aflumes  a  variety  of  forms,  and  is 
generally  progrefilve.  The  edift  of  Nantes  was 
not  revoked  without  many  previous  fteps,  and  the 
clergy  and  the  court  of  France  Ihewed  their  ill-will 
to  the  Proteftants  by  thwarting  them,  and  harrafling 
them,  in  many  indire6t  ways,  before  they  threw  off 
the  mafk,  and  perfecuted  openly.  Still,  they  did 
not  allow  themfelves  to  be  per/ecutorSy  becaufe  pro- 
teftantifm  was  always  tolerated  in  France,  though 
on  hard  conditions,  and  Proteftants  were  never  by 
law  excluded  from  civil  employments,  at  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  crown,  as  Diflenters  are  in  this 
country.  But  perfecution  takes  one  form  in  one 
place,  and  a  different  one  in  another. 

In  the  unqueftionably  perfecuting  reigns  of 
Elizabeth,  and  the  Stuarts,  the  Puritans  were  not 
put  to  death.     But  they  were  fo  much  harrafled  in 

H  2  various 


100  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

various  ways,  that  they  were  glad  to  take  refuge  in 
the  then  inhofpitable  climes  of  America,  a  country 
worfe  than  defert.  But  they  preferred  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  natural  favages  of  America,  to  that 
of  the  artificial,  but  more  cruel,  favages  of  Europe. 
By  perfeverance  they  conquered  all  their  diffi- 
culties, and  when  the  hand  of  oppreffion  was 
ftretched  towards  them  in  our  own  times,  they 
nobly  refilled,  and  conquered  again  in  another  way» 
The  hberty  of  America  was  the  proper  parent  of 
that  of  France  j  and  thus,  in  the  wonderful  order 
of  Divine  Providence,  has  oppreffion,  civil  and  re- 
ligious, been  the  caufe  of  a  greater  extenfion  of 
liberty  than  the  world  had  ever  known  before. 

A  lefs  degree  of  perfecution  will  now  induce 
the  defcendants  of  thofe  Puritans  to  join  their  bre- 
thren in  America,  or  the  common  fons  of  liberty 
nearer  home ;  either  of  whom  would  receive  them 
with  open  arms.  Let  the  governors  of  the  country 
attend  to  this  confideration,  before  the  evil  be  fo 
far  advanced,  as  that  nothing  can  prevent  its  far- 
ther progrefs.  And  rich  as  this  country  is  boafted 
to  be,  in  refources  of  all  kinds,  it  is  not,  I  appre- 
hend, in  fo  very  flourilhing  a  condition,  as  to  ven- 
ture upon  fuch  an  experiment  as  that  of  the  ex- 
pulfion  of  the  Diffenters  from  England  (which 
would  have  much  more  ferious  confequences  than 
that  of  the  Morifco's  from  Spain)  without  greater 
rilk  than  its  moft  fanguine  friends  would  chufe.  The 
American  war  had  a  flighcer  commencement  than 

the 


0;/  the  Riots  in  Birmijigham,         i  o  i 

the  riots  in  Birmingham,  and  the  animofity  againft 
the  Diflenters  is  now  more  general,  and  more  in- 
veterate, than  it  ever  was  againft  the  Americans. 
Verbum  Sapienti.     Principiis  ohjla. 

I  well  know  that  our  enemies  would  rejoice  in 
our  emigration*,  without  ever  refieding  that  pre- 
ceding emigrations  on  fimilar  accounts  have  never 
diminifhed  the  fource  from  which  they  fprung. 
Though  the  revocation  of  the  edift  of  Nantz  drove* 
immenfe  numbers  of  Proteftants  from  France,  the 
number  within  the  country  v/as  not  leflened.  To 
extirpate  feftaries  is  not  lb  eafy  a  bufinefs  as  to  ex- 
tirpate offenfive  plants,  or  animals ;  becaufe  a  man 
who  is  not  a  feftary  to-day  may  become  one  to- 
morrow. With  care,  the  whole  fpecies  of  afhes, 
or  elms,  for  example,  might  be  extirpated ;  efpe- 
cially  in  an  ifland.  But  it  would  foon  be  found  to 
be  labour  in  vain,  if  oaks,  beeches,  and  all  other 
trees,  fiiould  be  converted  into  afhes  or  elms.  In 
facl,  to  extirpate  Unitarians,  may  come  to  be  the 
fame  thing  as  to  extirpate  the  human  race. 

A  trinitarian,  in  confequence  of  reading  and 
thinking,  may  become  an  unitarian,  as  was  the  cafe 
with  myfelf  It  is  poffible  that  even  a  bifhop,  and 
that  bifhop  he  who  now  occupies  the  fee  of  St. 
David's,  may  become  an  unitarian.  For  though 
he  fome  time  ago  declared  that  he  had  not  read  my 


*  This  appears  from  feveral  publications  of  the  high  church  party 

fmce  the  riots. 

H  3  BtfiGry 


102  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

Hijiory  cf  early  Opinions  concerning  Chriji^  he  (till 
may  read  it,  and  may  be  convinced  by  it.  It  is 
alfo  within  the  fphere  oi fojfihility .^  that  an  unitarian 
biihop  may,  as  he  ought  to  do,  declare  himfelf 
one,  and  become  a  DifTenter.  The  fame  may  be 
the  cafe  with  thofe  of  the  learned  laity  who  have 
written  in  defence  of  the  prefent  church  eflablifh- 
ment*j  and  the  converfion  of  fuch  men  as  thefe 
may  foon  draw  others  after  them. 

To  thofe  who  are  at  all  acquainted  with  hif- 
tory,  I  need  not  obferve  that  the  perfecution  of  the 
Proteftants  in  France  proved  highly  injurious  to 
that  kingdom.  Men  of  property  and  of  enter- 
terprize  were  the  firft  to  emigrate,  and  they  foon 
drew  others  after  them,  and  in  a  few  years  formed 
eftablilliments  in  foreign  countries,  which  rivalled, 
and  afterwards  eclipfed,  thofe  which  they  had  left. 

Birmingham  will  not  forget  how  much  it  owes 
to  thr  ingenuity  and  fpirit  of  one  man,  and  that 
man  a  DifTenter,  the  father  of  one  of  thofe  whofe 
property  has  been  fo  wantonly  deftroyed.  The 
difference  between  Birmingham  and  the  neighbour- 
ing towns  is  almoft  entirely  owing  to  the  Ipirited 
example  of  the  late  Mr.  Taylor.     Had  he  been 

*  This  may  be  the  cafe  with  Mr.  Burke  himfelf.  He  is  not  def- 
titute  of  candour,  any  more  than  of  good  fe'nfe,  and  therefore  may 
come  to  fee,  and  acknowledge,  that  one  cannot  be  three,  or  three,  onsy 
which  is  our  great  argument ;  and  though  it  may  be  too  much  to  ex- 
pe6l,of/jz/«  to  read  my  Hijiory  of  early  Opinions,  or  my  Defences  of 
Vnitarianifm,  he  may  read  my  Appeal  to  the  ferious  Profejfors  of  Chrif- 
tianity,  or  my  General  Fienv  of  Arguments  againji  the  Di'vinity  or 
Pre-exijience  of  Chrifi  the  perufal  of  which  would  not  take  an  hour. 

treated 


On  the  Riots  In  "Birmingham.         103 

treated  as  his  fon  has  been,  and  carried  his  enterpriz  - 
ing  fpirit  into  France,  fome  town  in  that  country 
might  have  been  what  Birmingham  now  is. 

I  jfhall  jufl  mention  three  other  men  now  liv- 
ing, and  all  of  them  DiiTrnters,  whofe  fpirit  has  fo 
much  improved,  that  they  may  be  almofl  faid  to 
have  created^  their  feveral  manufaftures,  from  which 
this  country  already  derives  the  greateft  honour 
and  advantage,  Mr.  Wedgwood,  Mr.  "Wilkinfon, 
and  Mr.  Parker.  Such  rAen  as  thefe  are  the  makers 
of  countries ;  and  yet  fuch  men  as  thefe,  if  not  thefe 
men  themfelves,  would  the  mad  bigotry  of  this 
country  exult  in  feeing  depart  for  France,  America, 
or  Ireland;  and  many  would  think  themfelves 
happy  in  being  quit  of  them.  But  what  will  their 
pofterity  fay,  or  perhaps  themfelves,  a  few  years 
hence  ? 

The  French  want  nothing  but  the  example  of 
the  Englifli  method,  and  fpirit,  in  trade,  to  rival  us 
in  all  refpe6ts.  They  are  not  inferior  in  ingenuity, 
or  induftry  i  and  feeing  the  wonderful  effedls  of  large 
capitals  employed  in  manufadlures  and  commerce, 
and  efpecially  the  ability  which  it  affords  of  giving 
credit,  they  will  from  this  time  employ  the  money 
they  get  in  trade  to  better  purpofes  than  the  pur- 
chafe  of  places,  and  titles.  Having  no  court  to  look 
up  to,  and  depend  upon,  they  will  immediately 
adopt  our  maxims,  and  the  removal  of  a  few  Eng- 
lifh  manufadlurers  and  merchants  may  inftantly  de- 

H  4  cide 


104  -^'^  Appeal  to' the  Public 

cide  the  difference  in  their  favour.  And  what  a 
figure  will  this  country  then  make,  with  its  en- 
creafing  debts,  and  enormoufly  expenfive  govern- 
ment, without  any  fuperiority  with  refpeft  to  ma- 
nufa6lures  and  commerce  ?  Will  pulling  down 
diflenting  meeting  -  houfes,  and  dwelling  -  houfes, 
with  the  deftruftion  of  libraries,  and  philofophical 
inftruments,  and  drinking  damnation  to  Prefby- 
terians,  reftore  the  balance  in  favour  of  England? 
This  conduct  has  already,  in  the  eyes  of  all  Europe, 
covered  the  country  with*  (liame,  and  may  be  fol- 
lowed by  ruin ;  and  then  repentance,  which  has 
not  come  yet,  will  come  too  late. 

Gonfidering  the  great  number  of  Dififenters  in 
all  the  trading  towns  of  the  kingdom,  and  the  num- 
ber of  wealthy  families  who  are  continually  going 
from  the  Diffenters  into  the  church,  it  may  not 
much  exceed  the  truth,  if  we  fuppofe  that  one  half 
of  the  wealth  of  the  nation  has  been  the  acquifition 
of  Diffenters.  It  is  the  opinion  of  many,  that  envy 
of  the  profperity  of  Diffenters  was  one  confiderable 
ftimulus  to  the  mifchief  that  was  done  to  them  at 
Birmingham.  But  the  wanton  deftru6tion  of  wealth 
acquired  by  honeft  induftry,  is  not  the  way  to  make 
a  nation  flourifh,  and  enable  it  to  bear  its  burdens. 

The  only  effedual  remedy  of  the  evil,  which 
has  fhewn  itfelf  at  Birmingham,  and  which  threatens 
the  kingdom  at  large,  is  fuch  as  the  fpirit  of  the 
clergy  at  prefent  will  very  ill  brook.     It  is  nothing 

lefs 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,         105 

lefs  than  making  religious  toleration  complete,  which 
it  can  never  be  faid  to  be,  fo  long  as  any  man  fhall 
be  a  fufFerer  in  his  civil  capacity  on  account  of  his 
religion.  And  fince  exclufion  from  places  of  truft 
and  emolument  is  no  lefs  a  punilhment  than  fine 
and  imprifonment,  and  is  a  ftate  of  ignominy,  which 
may  be  felt  by  fome  in  the  mofl:  fenfible  manner ; 
to  make  the  toleration  complete,  the  Tejt  Atl  muft 
be  repealed,  as  well  as  all  other  penal  ftatutes  in 
matters  of  religion.  All  this  might  be  done,  and 
yet  the  church  be  left  in  the  full  poflfelTion  of  her 
creeds,  her  fubfcriptions,  her  revenues,  the  feat  of 
the  bifhops  in  Parliament,  and  even  the  public  uni- 
verficies,  with  every  thing  elfe  that  can  be  deemed 
neceffary  to  the  mofl  complete  ejlahlijhment  of  any 
fyftem  of  religion. 

But  the  church  of  England  is  not  content  to 
enjoy  her  proper  prerogatives.  She  is,  like  moft 
other  eftablifhments,  intolerant,  and  will  not  be 
fatisfied  without  the  degradation  at  lead,  of  thofe 
who  diffent  from  her.  Dr.  Johnfon  faid,  "  the 
"  Diffenters  muft  not  be  admitted  into  the  uni- 
**  verfities,  becaufe  that  would  be  to  furnifti 
"  their  enemies  with  arms."  But  without  having 
accefs  to  the  univerfities,  the  church  of  England 
has  found  that  we  are  in  no  want  of  fuch  arms, 
offenfive  or  defenfivej  and  this  jealous  exclufion 
of  us  from  the  univerfities,  and  from  other  advan- 
tages which  ought  to  be  common  to  all  citizens, 
is  the  circumftance  which  gives  our  weapons  their 
keeneft  edge. 

This 


io6  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

This  completion  of  the  toleration  muft,  in  the 
prefent  ftate  of  this  country,  be  the  work  of  admi- 
niftration,  checking  the  blind  and  impolitic  bigotry 
of  the  clergy,  which  it  is  in  the  power  of  our  go- 
vernors to  do  effedlually,  whenever  they  pleafe. 
But  if  they  go  on  to  thwart  the  Diffenters,  and  fup- 
port  the  high  churchmen  againft  them,  the  fpirit  of 
party  will  neceffarily  increafe,  till  perfecution,  legal 
or  illegal,  will  become  extreme.  However,  any 
farther  application  to  Parliament  for  this  purpofe 
by  the  Diffenters  would  only  inflame  matters  more 
than  ever  j  as  the  clergy  are  far  from  Ihewing  any 
difpofition  to  relent  in  our  favour;  and  without  the 
leaft  regard  to  the  political  interefl:  of  the  country, 
many  of  them  would  proceed  to  any  extremity. 
The  advantage  which  the  country  derives  from  this 
this  church  in  Jprituals  ought  to  be  very  great,  to 
counterbalance  what  it  may  fuffer  by  it  in  temf  orals. 

If  the  ftate  of  the  church  of  England  with  re- 
fpeft  to  the  whole  of  the  Britilh  empire  be  con- 
fidered  by  the  members  of  it,  they  will  fee  the 
greateft  reafon  for  moderation,  and  how  impolitic 
it  muft  be  to  indulge  that  fpirit  of  perfecution 
•which  has  broke  out  at  Birmingham,  and  has 
manifefted  itfelf  in  many  other  places.  The  Britilh 
empire,  befides  England,  embraces  Scotland,  Ire- 
land, and  Canada,  in  all  which  countries  but  a 
fmall  number  of  the  inhabitants  are  of  her  com- 
munion. Were  thefe  added  to  the  DilTenters  in 
England,  and  joined  to  thofe  within  the  pale  of  the 
church  who  difapprove  of  its  fyftem,  but  have  not 

the 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingha?n.       j  07 

the  courage  to  break  their  connexion  with  it,  there 
is  Httle  doubt,  but  they  would  make  a  majority  of 
the  fubjefts. 

Befides,  all  who  are  not  Dififenters  mufl:  not, 
therefore,  be  numbered  among  the  proper  adhe- 
rents of  the  eftablifhed  church.  Becaufe  the  great 
mafs  of  them  have  no  preference  for  it,  but  becaufe 
it  is  the  eftablifhed  church ;  and  no  obferving  per- 
fon  can  doubt,  but  that  if  Mr.  Lindfey's  Unitarian 
Liturgy  fhould  be  patronized  by  government,  and 
a  few  of  the  more  zealous  of  the  clergy  fhould  not 
found  the  alarm,  not  one  perfon  in  a  hundred 
would  make  any  complaint  of  it. 

Still  lefs  can  thofe  who  attend  no  public  worfhip 
at  all,  who  abound  in  the  higheft  and  loweft  clafles 
of  the  community,  be  fairly  reckoned  to  belong  to 
any  church;  and  in  all  large  manufacturing  and 
commercial  towns,  in  which  confift  the  great  re- 
fources  of  the  nation,  they  who  attend  public  wor- 
fhip  of  any  kind  bear  but  a  fmall  proportion  to  the 
reft.  In  Birmingham,  at  leaft  ftxty  thoufand  out 
of  feventy  are  of  this  clafs ;  and  of  the  remainder 
more  perfons  attend  public  worfhip  out  of  the 
parifh  churches  than  in  them.  In  many  parts  of 
South  Wales,  and  efpecially  in  the  diocefe  of  St. 
David's,  I  am  informed  that  the  parifh  churches 
are  almoft  deferted,  while  the  meeting-houfes  are 
numerous  and  full. 

In  fa6t,  therefore,  the  true  intereft  of  the  church 
of  England,  in  the  whole  empire,  is  not  great.     It 

has 


io8  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

has  but  little  hold  on  the  minds  of  the  people ;  and 
is  fupported  by  other  means  than  a  cordial  appro- 
bation of  it,  and  attachment  to  it.  Her  dependance 
is  not  upon  her/elf,  but  upon  the  mere  will  and 
power  of  the  crown,  which  may  change  to-morrow. 
It,  therefore,  certainly  does  not  become  her  to  be 
infolent. 

In  this  ftate  of  things,  alfo,  it  is  certainly  the 
beft  policy  in  the  crown  to  favour  toleration,  rather 
than  perfecution,  and  to  convince  every  part  of  the 
empire,  divided  as  the  inhabitants  of  it  are  with  re- 
fpe£l  to  religion,  that  no  difference  o^  this  kind  will 
have  any  influence  in  civil  matters.  But  at  prefent, 
this  country,  which  ufed  to  pride  itfelf,  and  with 
reafon,  on  its  pre-eminence  with  refpedl  to  liberty^ 
is  far  behind  many  other  nations  o(  Europe,  to  fay 
nothing  of  America,  and  difcovers  a  difpofition  to 
recede,  rather  than  to  advance,  with  refpeft  to 
liberty,  civil  or  religious. 


SECTION 


On  the  Riots  in  Birminghajn.        109 


SECTION    X. 

^he  Conduftonj  containing  RefieSfions  on  the  Power  of 
Religion  in  general. 

X  SHALL  clofe  thefe  Refle6tions  with 
fome  relating  to  religion  properly  fo  called,  as  it  has 
its  feat  in  the  mind,  and  influences  the  temper  and 
conduft  J  and  with  thefe  I  particularly  wifh  to  im- 
prefs  my  chriltian  readers.  Other  perfons  do  not 
need  to  proceed  any  farther,  as  what  follows  will  to 
them  be  like  fomething  in  an  unknown  tongue. 

Having  had  a  religious  education,  and  ori- 
ginally a  delicate  conftitution,  I  had  from  my  early 
years  a  thoughtful  and  ferious  turn  of  mind.  I 
have  alfo  ever  been  particularly  attentive  to  hiflories 
of  perfecution,  and  the  flate  of  men's  minds  in  thofe 
trying  circumflrances.  This  will  appear  from  my 
publications.  Several  of  my  printed  Difcourjes  re- 
late to  this  fubjedt,  much  of  my  Church  Hifiory 
(much  more  than  is  ufual  in  works  of  that  extent) 
is  appropriated  to  narratives  of  that  kind,  and  I 
made  a  feparate  re-publication,  with  a  large  Preface, 
of  An  Account  of  the  Sufferings  of  two  eminent  French 
ProteJlantSy  Monfieur  Marolles  and  Lewis  le  Fevre. 

Having  myfelf  experienced  fomething  tliat  may 
be  called  prjecutioni  on  account  of  the  freedom  of 

my 


no  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

my  religious  principles,  in  my  firfl:  fetdement,  and 
having  fince  that  time  had  much  experience  in  re- 
ligious controverfy,  mere  reproach^  however  atro- 
cious, never  affedled  me  much  j  much  lefs,  I  believe, 
than  it  does  mofb  other  perfons;  and  of  late  years,  I 
can  truly  fay  that  it  is  as  nearly  as  poQlble  a  matter 
of  perfefl  indifference  to  mc,  from  whatever  quarter 
it  has  come.  Of  fufferings  of  this  kind  it  is  pro- 
bable that  few  men  have  ever  had  a  greater  fhare, 
almoft  every  pofTible  kind  of  evil  having  been  faid  of 
me,  though  fal/ely.  But  the  reproach  of  enemies  has 
been  more  than  compenfated  by  the  warm  appro- 
bation and  attachment  of  friends,  of  which  alfo  I 
have  had  my  full  fhare,  enough  to  enconjage  any 
man  to  perfevere  in  well  doing,  and  even  to  bear 
any  fufferings  on  that  account. 

But  though  I  had  read  and  reflefted  much  on 
the  feelings  of  chrillians  in  a  ftate  of  perfecution, 
and  never  doubted  but  that,  in  ordinary  cafes,  their 
joys  far  exeeded  their  forrows,  I  could  not  know 
that  they  did  fo  to  the  degree  in  which  I  can  truly, 
and  I  hope  without  much  vanity  (for  in  this  I 
mean  nothing  but  the  inftruftion  and  encourage- 
ment of  my  readers)  fay  that  I  have  lately  found  it. 
It  is  only  in  trying  fituations  that  the  full  force  of 
religious  principle  is  felt,  and  that  its  real  energy 
can  {how  itfelf.  And  firmly  believing,  from  the 
doftrine  of philo/ophkal  necejfity,  that  the  hand  of  God 
is  in  all  events,  that  in  all  cafes  men  are  only  his 
inftruments;  that  under  his  fure  guidance  all  evil 
will  terminate  in  good,  and  that  nothing  fo  effec- 
tually 


On  the  Riots  in  Binnmgham,        1 1 1 

tually  promotes  any  good  caufe,  by  drawing  men's 
attention  to  it,  as  the  perfecution  of  its  advocates, 
all  that  I  have  fuffered,  and  all  that  I  can  fufFer,  has, 
in  many  feaibns  of  the  calmeft  refledion  upon  it, 
appeared  as  nothings  and  lejs  than  nothing. 

I  confider  this  perfecution  (for  fo  I  fliall  call  if, 
though  my  enemies  will,  of  courfe,  confider  it  as  the 
punilhment  of  my  evil  deeds,  and  even  much  lefs 
than  I  deferve)  let  it  be  carried  to  what  extent  it 
will,  as  a  certain  prognoftic  of  the  prevalence  of 
every  great  truth  for  which  I  have  contended ;  and 
this  profpe6t,  together  with  the  idea  of  my  being  an 
inftrument  in  the  hand  of  providence  of  promoting 
the  fpread  of  important  truth,  hy  fuffering  as  well  as 
by  a£fing,  has  given  me  at  times  fuch  exalted  feelings 
of  devotion  (mixed,  as  fentiments  of  devotion  ever 
will  be,  with  the  pureit  good-will  towards  all  men, 
my  bittereft  enemies  not  excepted)  as  I  had  but  an 
imperfe6t  idea  of  before.  If  the  future  peace  of  the 
country,  and  the  fafety  of  my  friends  did  not  re- 
quire it,  I  would  not  have  a  fingle  facrifice  made 
to  public  juftice.  Both  the  inftigators  of  the  late 
violences,  and  their  blind  agents  in  them,  fhould 
go  without  any  other  punilhment,  than  what,  if 
they  ever  come  to  a  juft  fenfe  of  things,  they  will 
fuiliciently  inflid  upon  themfelves. 

Admitting  that  our  perfecutors  really  imagined 
that  they  were  doing  right,  and  promoting  the 
caufe  of  truth,  in  their  late  outrages,  yet  the  feel- 
ings of  the  man  who  does  an  injury,  with  whatever 

view. 


112  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

view,  cannot  be  without  a  mixture  of  malevolence, 
in  confequence  of  his  rejoicing  ^in  that  injury ;  a 
fentiment  unworthy  of  a  chriftian,  and  by  which  he 
will  feel  his  mind  debafed.  Whereas  the  fentiments 
of  the  pureft  benevolence  eafily  mix  with  thofe  of 
devotion  in  the  mind  of  the  man  who  \.m]u^\y Juffers 
the  injury,  and  who  is  fatisfied  that  he  is  promoting 
the  caufe  of  truth,  and  confequently  the  beft  in- 
tercfts  of  mankind,  by  his  fufFerings.  When,  fince 
my  late  difafter,  I  have  given  fcope  to  fuch  re- 
flexions as  thefe,  I  have  had  fenfations  of  joy  and 
exultation  which  I  Ihould  in  vain  attempt  to  de- 
fcribe ,  and  in  general  they  have  immediately  fuc- 
ceeded  the  moll  lively  fenfe  that  I  ever  had  of  the 
injury  done  to  me. 

What  I  have  fuffered  in  my  perfon  is  in  a  man- 
ner nothing,  and  with  refpeft  to  all  the  common 
wants  of  nature,  I  have  had  fuch  refources  in  my 
friends,  and  in  thofe  whom  I  did  not  before  know  to 
be  my  friends,  as  few  perfons  in  my  fituation  could 
have  found.  But  corporeal  fufferings  are  not  thofe 
which  give  men  the  greateft  anguilh.  Mental  un- 
eafinefs  is  much  more  dreadful  than  bodily  pain ; 
and  the  defpondency  of  fome  friends,  the  fufferings 
to  which  others  of  them  may  be  expofed,  and  the 
marks  of  prejudice  in  fome  whom  I  had  not  con- 
fidered  as  enemies,  have  fometimes  given  me  feel- 
ings peculiarly  unpleafant.  Alfo,  the  idea  of  my 
not  being  able,  at  my  time  of  life,  to  replace  my 
papers,  library,  and  apparatus  j  the  interruption  of 
all  my  purfuits,  and  the  uncertainty  of  my  future 

profpedts, 


On  the  Riot  in  'Birmingham.  113 

profpe^ls,  cannot  but  fome  tinries  be  painful  to  me. 
But  notwithftanding  this,  when  I  have  attended  to 
the  confiderations  before  mentioned,  I  have  even 
been  able  to  rejoice  that  I  had  fo  much  to  lofe; 
Jfince  without  fome  facrifice  of  this  nature,  I  fhould 
not,  in  reahty,  have  fudained  any  lofs  at  all,  and 
confequently  fhould  have  had  nothing  to  boaft  of. 
ThiSi  I  own,  is  a  fentiment  that  is  not  of  the  mod 
exalted  nature,  but  I  hope  it  is  innocent;  and  as 
part  of  my  real  feelings^  not  improper  to  be  men- 
tioned, among  my  other  fources  of  confolation. 

So  fully  am  I  perfuaded  that  more  good  than 
evil  will  refult  from  what  has  happened  to  me,  that, 
were  it  in  my  power,  1  would  not  be  rellored  to 
my  former  fituation.  Had  the  late  events  not  hap- 
pened, I  fhould,  of  courfe,  have  wifhed,  and  prayed, 
for  continuing  as  I  was.  For  no  man,  I  believe, 
ever  thought  himfelf  more  happily  fituated  than  I 
did.  But  Providence  having  now  declared  itfelf^ 
I  acquiefce,  and  even  rejoice  in  the  decifion. 

As  to  the  theological  works  which  I  had  in 
view,  one  of  which  was  to  trace  the  origin,  and 
afcertain  the  nature,  o^  Antient  Idolatry ,  in  order  to 
demonflrate  the  value  of  revelation,  another  to  con- 
tinue my  Church  Uifiory^  to  the  prefent  times;  a 
third  to  publifh  my  Notes  and  Paraphraje  on  the 
New  Hejlament^  and  a  fourth,  to  complete  what  I  had 
undertaken  of  the  New  'I'ranjlation  of  the  Scriptures^ 
I  conclude,  either  that  thefe  works  were  not  want- 
ed, or  that  they  will  be  better  done  by  other  hands. 

I  If 


114  -^^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

If  life,  and  the  proper  means,  be  continued  to  me, 
I  fhall  refume,  at  leaft,  fome  of  them,  as  well  as 
my  philofophical  experiments ;  and  if  not,  1  Ihall 
confole  myfelf  with  this  verfe  of  Milton  j 

"  They  alfo  ferve,  who  only  ftand  and  wait." 

I  am  ready  and  willing  to  labour,  and  to  the  utmoft 
of  my  ability,  whenever  my  tafk  iliall  be  given  me. 

I  hope  alfo  that  I  Ihall  not  be  much  condemned 
for  deriving  fome  confolation  from  the  thought, 
that  though  my  library  and  apparatus  be  deftroyed, 
I  made  fame  confiderable  ufe  of  them  while  I  had 
them,  and  therefore  that  I  have  not  lived  in  vain. 
Of  this  confolation  my  enemies  cannct  deprive  me ; 
nor,  if  my  life  be  continued,  and  my  affairs  be  in 
any  meafure  re-eftabliflied,  will  any  thing  that  I 
have  yet  fuffered,  damp  my  ardour  in  frelh  pur- 
fuits;  and  having  the  advantage  of  years  and  expe- 
rience, I  may  yet  live  to  ferve,  not  my  country  in 
particular,  but  mankind,  and  the  world,  of  which 
I  am  now  become  more  a  citizen  at  large. 

As  to  continuance  of  life,  I  was  never  very 
anxious  about  it.  My  writings  fhew  that  I  do  not 
con^id.CT death  in  itfelf  as  any  great  evil;  and  a  vio- 
lent death,  which  is  all  that  men  can  infli6t,  is  not, 
in  general,  fo  much  to  be  dreaded  as  many  difeafes. 
Perfecution  is  not  to  be  courted  by  any  chriftian. 
Death  is  never  to  be  fought,  but  to  be  avoided; 
and  no  man  can  tell  hov/  he  fhall  behave  in  any 
very  new  and  trying  fituation.    But  I  truil  that  the 

fame 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,         115 

fame  principles  which  have  fupported  me  hitherto 
will  carry  me  through  any  trials  that  may  yet  re- 
main for  me. 

T  have  often  amufed  myfelf,  and  my  friends, 
with  recounting  my  feveral  migrations,  which, 
though  never  of  my  own  feeking,  have  been  more 
numerous  than  thofe  of  any  of  my  acquaintance; 
when  I  always  faid  that,  having  now  obtained 
a  happier  fituation  in  all  refpefts,  than  I  ever 
had  before,  I  hoped  I  fhould  never  remove  any 
more,  and  that  I  did  not  even  wifh  to  be,  in  any 
refpedl,  happier  than  I  was,  in  this  world.  In 
every  change  of  fituation,  I  uled  to  fay,  the  diffi- 
culty of  my  removing  had  been  increafed  by  the 
accumulation  of  my  books  and  philofophical  in- 
ftruments ;  but  that,  at  Birmingham,  my  library  and 
apparatus  were  become  fo  confiderable,  that  it  was 
abfolutely  impoflible  for  me  ever  to  remove  to  any 
other  place.  But  now  I  am  light  enough,  and  can 
move  with  more  eafe  than  ever,  ready,  at  a  mo- 
ment's warning,  to  go  wherever  it  (hall  pleafe  di- 
vine providence  to  call  me. 

In  general,  the  mind  of  m.an  foon  recovers  its 
ufual  level,  whatever  it  has  been ;  fcenes  of  prof- 
perity  or  adverficy  only  making  a  temporary  im- 
preiTion  upon  it.  Since,  therefore,  I  have  hitherto 
enjoyed  a  gcjod  Ihare  of  uniform  chearful  fpirits, 
without  being  fubje6t  to  the  extremes  of  elevation 
or  depreffion,  I  have  little  doubt  but  that  the  fame 

I  3  happy 


1 1 6  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

happy  flate  of  mind  will  accompany  me  through 
whatever  may  yet  remain  of  life. 

Moreover,  the  fame  good  providence  which  has 
accompanied  me,  will,  I  doubt  not,  accompany  my 
children,  who,  being  educated  in  good  principles, 
will,  I  truft,  have  no  lefs  ardour  of  mind  than  I 
have  had  in  every  laudable  purfuit  that  Ihall  be 
within  their  reach.  In  this  cafe  I  fhall  not  be  forry 
to  have  been  their  parent,  though  they  Ihould  be 
expofed  to  greater* fufferings  than  I  have  been  called 
to  endure,  in  an  equally  good  caufej  and  they  will 
not  be  afhamed  of  their  father,  who  has  fet  them 
the  example  of  it.  Laflly,  having  a6ted  a  worthy 
and  generous  part  in  life,  in  the  purfuit  of  truth  and 
the  praftice  of  virtue,  I  Ihall  hope  to  meet  them, 
and  my  other  chriftian  friends,  in  a  better  world, 
where  wc  Ihall  have  nothing  to  fear  from  open  vio- 
lence, any  more  than  from  fecret  theft. 


STRICTURES. 


[    117    ] 


STRICTURES  ON  A  PAMPHLET 

INTITLED, 

thoughts  on  the  late  Riot  at  Birmingam, 

[Printed  for  John  Sewell,  CornhlU.] 


&  I N  C  E  the  preceding  Appeal  was  fent  to 
the  prefs,  there  has  appeared  a  pamphlet  intitled 
thoughts  on  the  late  Riot  at  Birmingham^  written 
evidently  by  a  high  churchman  (though  in  an  Ad- 
'vertijment  prefixed  to  it,  he  fays  he  has  *'  no  party 
**  views,  or  intolerant  fpirit)  which  abundantly  juf- 
tifies  all  that  1  have  advanced  concerning  perfons 
of  that  defcription.  It  is,  in  fa6t,  nothing  lefs  than 
a  declaration  of  war  againft  all  Diflenters,  who  fhall 
prefume  to  write  any  thing  againft  the  eftabliihed 
church,  threatening  us  with  utterdeftrudlion.  With 
us  writing  is  turbulence,  and  fuch  turbulence  as 
will  authorize  open  hoftility  of  every  kind.  Such 
is  the  unavoidable  inference  from  the  following 
paflage,  p.  52. 

^^  It  is  not  too  late  for  the  Diflenters  to  recover 
*'  the  character  of  peaceable  citizens,  which  they 
**  have  loft  by  their  late  political  interference.  It  was 
^*  thought  that  many  of  them  finned  againft  the  peace 
'*  of  the  public  through  inadvertency,  and  that  they 

I  3  «  onljr 


1 1 8     StriBures  on  a  Famphlef^  tntitled 

*^  only  wanted  fome  inftrudlive  fa^  to  convince 
*^  them  of  the  tendency  of  what  they  were  about, 
"  and  to  incline  them  to  fhew  themfelves  the  harm- 
"  lefs  profeffors  of  a  peaceful  religion.  Such  a 
^'  fa6t  has  happened,  and  the  nation  is  waiting  to 
*'  fee  what  efFe(5t  it  will  have  on  them.  If  it  is  fuch 
"  as  to  fhew  that  they  have  erred  through  want  of 
"  confideration,  an  a6t  of  oblivion  is  ready  to  be 
"  paffed  on  all  their  former  mifcondu6l.  But  if 
"  the  fame  reftlefs  and  turbulent  fpirit  is  ftill  feen 
"  working  among  them,  farewel  candour,  forbear- 
"  ance,  and  concord.  There  will  be  an  extin<5lion 
*^  of  ail  the  charities  that  chriftianity  inculcates  be- 
*'  tween  the  different  perfuafions,  and  hoftilities  will 
*'  commence,  that  will  probably  never  end  till  the 
*'  one  has  efFefted  the  defl:ru6bion  of  the  other." 

What  could  Dominic  himfelf  have  faid  more  to 
his  purpofe,  at  the  head  of  his  crufaders  ?  And  what 
have  we  done  more  than  the  perfecuted  Albigenfes 
did  to  provoke  this  violence  "^  What  have  we  done 
more  than  the  primitive  chriftians,  or  than  the  re- 
formers from  popery  did,  in  their  time,  that  is, 
write  in  defence  of  our  principles,  and  with  a  view 
to  this,  expofe  thofe  of  our  adverfaries,  and  al- 
moft  univerfally  when  they  were  the  aggreflbrs,  and 
we  were  treated  in  the  moft  infulting  manner  ?  For 
this  all  candour  is  profeffedly  abandoned,  and  de- 
ftrudlion  threatened. 

At  length,  then,  we  are  come  to  an  iiTue.  And 
fince  with  us  refiftance  would  be  in  vain,  and  in 

our 


Thoughts  on  the  Riot  at  Birmingham,     119 

our  opinion  unchriftian,  we  muft  bear  all  the  malice 
of  our  enemies,  or  abandon  the  country.  For  we 
Ihall  never  abandon  the  defence  of  our  principles 
as  we  have  hitherto  done,  that  is,  by  writing. 

According  to  this  writer,  DifTenters  mull:  neither 
write  about  religion  nor  politics.  "  As  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  conltitution,"  he  fays,  p.  49, 
*'  leave  it  to  other  hands."  ^his,  then,  is  a  thing 
that  we  have  no  intereft  in.  Confequently,  we  are 
already  to  be  confidered  as  no  better  than  aliensy 
which  is  another  reafon  why  we  fhould  go  to  fome 
country,  where  we  may  be  treated  as  citizens. 

Inconfiflently  enough,  however,  with  the  de- 
claration of  hoftility  quoted  above,  this  writer  fays, 
p.  2,2,  "  The  unitarian  DilTenters  are  not  yet  of  fuf- 
"  ficient  confequence  to  give  any  apprehenfions.'* 
Why  then  all  this  rage,  and  buftle  ?  Is  the  Britifh 
lion  fo  tormented  with  a  fly  ?  Have  the  high 
church  people  burned  our  meeting-houfes  and 
dwelling-houfes,  with  every  thing  belonging  to  us, 
without  the  excufe  of  having  fomething  to  fear 
from  us  ?  What  then  would  they  do  if  we  gave 
them  real  caufe  of  fear  ? 

In  the  opinion  of  this  writer,  and  all  of  his 
party,  it  was  I  who  was  the  proper  caufe  of  the  riot, 
and  of  all  the  mifchief  that  was  occafioned  by  it. 
"  Tis  you,"  fays  he,  p.  1 6,  in  his  farcaftic  way, 
"  meek  divine,  peaceable  philofopher,  that  did,  in 
"  fad,  fet  the  populace  afloat,  and  bring  it  down 

I  4  "upon 


1 20     Sfridiures  on  a  Pamphlet^  intitlcd 

"  upon  a  crouded  town,  like  a  deftrudlive  engine, 
"  that  threatened  general  devaftation.  In  vain, 
"  therefore,  you  feek  to  fhift  off  the  blame  of  this 
*'  event  from  yourfelf,  by  endeavouring  to  fix  it  on 
"  others.  The  country  confiders  you  as  the  prin- 
"  cipal  caufe  of  the  mifchief,  and  the  utmoft  that 
"  candour  itfelf  can  fay  in  your  behalf  is,  that  per- 
*^  haps  you  did  not  intend  the  confequences,  and 
"  are,  independent  of  the  loffes  you  have  fuftained, 
"  fincerely  forry  that  they  happened." 

From  reading  this,  any  ftranger  would  natu- 
rally conclude,  that  it  was  I  that  raifed  the  rioters, 
and  headed  them,  but  that  afterwards  they  turned 
upon  myfelf  J  and  not  that  they  were  raifed  and  in- 
ftigated  by  my  enemies,  and  that  I  was  their  firft 
vidlim.      On  the  idea,  however,  that  I   was  the 
aggreffor  in  this  bufinefs,  and  taking  it  for  granted, 
that  I  mud  fee  it  in  the  fame  light  as  himfelf,  he  is 
furprized,  p.  3,   17,  to  find  nothing  oi  'penitence  in 
my  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham.     But 
what  have  I  to  repent  of?    Is  it  my  writings,  in 
defence  of  truth  and  liberty  ?     I  am  fo  far  from 
repenting,  that  I  glory  in  them,  and  in  the  fame 
circumftances,  I  would  have  done  the  fame;  and 
while  I  am  capable  of  writing  at  all,  I  fliall  con- 
tinue to  write  in  the  fame  manner,  as  opportunity 
offers.     With  refpeft  to  the  riot,  if  I  repent  at  all, 
it  muff  be  for  the  crimes  of  others.     But  though  I 
cannot  repent  of  them,  I  can  truly  fay  I  am  deeply 
concerned  for  them,  and  defirous  that  thofe  who  are 
guilty  may  repent.    As  things  are,  it  is  enough  for 

me. 


thoughts  on  the  Riot  at  Birmingham.     1 2 1 

me,  as  a  chriftian,  to  forgive  thofe  who  have  of- 
fended me,  whenever  they  repent.  More  than  this 
is  not  required  of  any  man.  Let  thofe  then  who  have 
burned  my  houfe,  or  have  inftigated  others  to  burn 
it,  do  their  duty,  and  I  (hall  be  ready  to  do  mine. 

This  writer  himfelf,  this  abettor  of  the  burning 
of  houfes,  libraries,  and  philofophical  inftruments, 
as  an  anfwer  to  arguments^  only  pretends  to  find  my 
inftruments  of  deftruftion  in  my  writings.     "  Cu- 
''  riofity,"  he  fays,  p.  i6,   "  would  prompt  the 
**  people  to  read  for  themfelves"  (I  only  wifh  they 
were  difpofed  to  do  fo,  efpecially  at  Birmingham) 
''  where  a  man  that  was  diftinguifhed  by  fuch  fen- 
"  timents"  (whatever,  then,  it  was  that  was  dan- 
gerous about  me,  they  were  but  Jenttments)  "  was 
*'  an  inhabitant.     They  opened  one  of  his  books, 
*'  and  there  found  that  the  man  who  had  quietly 
*^  enjoyed  the  exercife  of  his  religion  threatened  the 
"  deftrudion  of  theirs."     But  did  not  I  allow  to 
others  the  fame  liberty  that  I  took  myfelf  i  and  how 
did  I  threaten  others,  except  in  the  fame  manner  as 
others  had  threatened  me,  viz,  by  writing  ? 

In  the  fame  manner,  in  vindication  of  the  juft^ 
nefs  of  his  charge  againft  me  as  the  proper  author 
of  all  the  mifchief,  he  fays,  p.  17,  "  I  call  the  whole 
"  nation  to  witnefs."  Now  what  can  the  whole 
nation  witnefs  befides  my  writings,  which  are  open 
to  them  all,  and  which  I  fincerely  wifh  they  would 
all  read  ?  * 

*  He  likewife  fays,  p.  17,  that  this  charge  againft  me  can  be 
*«  fubftantiated  by  producing  the  papers  of  the  offender."  If  by  papers 

be 


122       StriSfures  on  a  Pamphlet  intttkd 

That  the  whole  of  the  turbulence  this  writer 
afcribes  to  me  confifts  in  nothing  but  my  writings ^ 
is  farther  evident  from  his  cenfure  of  my  treatment 
of  civil  eftabhfhments  of  chriftianity  in  my  Letter 
io  Mr.  Burke  J  in  which,  replying  to  an  orator,  who 
had  not  been  fparing  of  his  metaphors  on  the  other 
fide,  I  had  made  ufe  of  fome  which  appeared  to  me 
to  be  applicable  on  mine,  comparing  thofe  eftab- 
lilliments,  which  were  unknown  in  the  primitive 
and  founder  ages  of  the  church,  but  were  intro- 
duced in  a  late  and  more  corrupt  Hate,  to  2.  fungus ^ 
&c.  "  How  remote,"  fays  he,  p.  1 8,  "  is  this  from 
*^  the  language  of  a  peaceable  man."     But,  furely, 
it  is  not  more  remote  from  peace,  than  the  burn- 
ing of  a  houfe  is  from  the  anfwering  of  an  argu- 
ment.    However,  it  is  evident  that,  in  this  writer's 
idea,  I  cannot  write  at  all,  at  leaft  to  any  purpofe, 
and  employ  either  reajon  or   imagination^  without 
breaking. the  peace,  and  incurring  the  penalties  an- 
nexed to  that  offence.     I  fhould  have  been  happy, 
however,  if  my  conduft  had  been  confidered  in 
that  light,  and  my  enemies  had  contented  them- 
felves  with  profecuting  me  in  any  legal  method  for 
breaking  the  peace.     It  v/ould  have  been  a  curious 
trial,  and  would  not,  I  prefume,  have  ended  as 
did  the  riots  at  Birmingham. 

be  meant  manufcript  papers,  found  in  my  library,  when  the  rioters 
plundered  it,  of  which  this  writer  feenis  to  have  had  the  infpeftion, 
let  them  be  pioduced.  I  have  a  perfeft  confcioufnefs  that  there  exiits 
nothing  of  my  writing,  found  either  there,  or  in  any  other  place^  that 
can  furnifli  juft  matter  of  crimination  againft  me,  though,  as  was  the 
cafe  with  the  immortal  Algernon  Sydney,  papers  fo  found  fhould  be 
admitted  as  legal  evidence.  I  will  not,  however,  anfwer  for  papers 
that  may  have  been  written  by  others  in  order  to  be  found  in  my  li- 
!  brary,  any  more  than  for  the  forged  htUr  that  was  read  to  the  mob, 
to  inftigate  them  to  do  the  mifchief. 

As 


thoughts  on  the  Riot  at  Birmingham.     1 2  3 

As  a  farther  reafon  why  I  fhould  not  have 
written  any  thing  againft  the  church  (which,  it 
feems,  does  not  hke  to  be  naolefted)  he  alleges  my 
not  being  of  it.  "  This  pacific  divine,  and  phi- 
**  lofopher,"  he  fays,  p.  6,  "  meddles  with  the 
*'  concerns  of  a  fociety  to  which  he  does  not  be- 
"  long."  But  do  the  clergy  govern  themfelves 
by  the  fame  maxim  ?  Have  they  never  volun- 
tarily attacked  the  DifTenters  ?  Did  Mr.  Madan  get 
himfelf  admitted  into  any  of  our  focieties  before  he 
wrote  againft  us  ?  Was  nor  he,  then,  guilty  of  med- 
dling with  the  concerns  of  a  fociety  to  which  he 
did  not  belong,  even  more  than  myfelf,  as  he  was 
the  aggreffor  in  the  controverfy.  But  the  maxim 
itfelf  is  abfurd.  It  becomes  every  man  to  defend 
truth,  and  attack  error,  wherever  he  finds  it.  Every 
man  is  of  the  fociety  of  mankind,  and  fhould  not 
fee  his  brethren  go  aftray,  or  in  any  refpeft  injure 
themfelves,  without  endeavouring  to  ferve  them. 
Did  not  the  primitive  chriftians  meddle  with  the 
affairs  of  the  heathens,  and  the  Proteftants  with 
thofe  of  the  Catholics,  though  they  did  not  belong 
to  their  focieties  ?  And  did  they  not  meddle  with 
them  in  the  fame  manner  in  which  I  have  med- 
dled with  the  church  of  England,  viz.  by  fpeaking 
and  writing :  and  many  of  them  wrote  in  a  much 
more  irritating  manner  than  I  have  ever  done,  and 
were  univerfally  admired  for  it, 

Diflenters,  however,  have  juft  caufe  of  med- 
dling with  the  church  of  England,  fo  long  as  it  is 
a  national  church,  and  they,  as  well  as  the  reft  of 

the 


1 24     ^tri5lures  on  a  Pamphlet  entitled 

the  community,  contribute  towards  the  mainte^ 
nance  of  it.  For  every  man  is  concerned  to  fee 
that  he  has  the  value  of  that  for  which  he  gives 
his  money.  The  Diflenters  are  much  more  a  fo- 
ciety  with  which  the  members  of  the  church  of 
England  have  no  bufinefs  to  meddle,  as  they  do 
not  contribute  to  the  fupport  of  our  worfhip. 
According  to  this  writer,  DilTenters  have  nothing 
to  do  with  either  the  church  or  the  Jiate^  but  muft 
be  paflive  lookers  on  in  every  thing;  patiently 
bearing  every  burden  that  is  laid  upon  them. 

From  the  whole  of  this  performance,  which, 
whether  coming  from  any  authority  or  not,  evi- 
dently fpeaks  the  language  of  all  the  high  church 
party,  it  is  evident  that  we  are  to  receive  blows 
for  words,  and  fire  and  fword  for  argument.  Let 
them  then  go  to  their  purpole,  and  proceed  as  they 
have  begun  to  burn,  viz.  our  houfes  and  meeting- 
houfes,  and  ourfelves  too,  if  they  can  find  us  In 
them  J  for  that  was  their  intention  at  Birmingham. 
We  alfo  fhall  defend  ourfelves  as  we  have  hitherto 
done,  i.  e.  with  more  writing,  and  more  arguments. 
All  men,  and  all  animals,  naturally  have  recourfe 
to  fuch  weapons  as  they  find  themfelves  furnifhed 
with,  and  are  moft  expert  in  the  ufe  of;  and  infig- 
nificant  as  ours  may  appear,  in  comparifon  with 
theirs,  they  will  be  found  more  effeftual.  We 
will  fay  as  the  noble  Florentine  faid  to  the  French 
king  and  his  officers,  "Do  you  found  your  trurn- 
"  pets,  and  we  will  ring  our  bells.'* 

Thi? 


Thoughts  on  the  Riot  at  Birmingham.    125 

This  writer  fays,  p.  1 2,  that  "  as  a  philofopher 
"  I  know  fomething  of  human  nature,  and  how 
"  irritable  men  are  on  the  fubjefb  of  their  national 
"  reUgion;"  and  p.  51,  that  my  "political  ani- 
"  madverfions  did  not  a6t  merely  on  the  under- 
*'  (landings  of  men,  but  that  they  took  hold  of  their 
*'  paflions."  This,  indeed,  we  have  found  to  our 
coll.  But  it  is  likewife  well  known  that  paflion 
predominates  mofl  where  there  is  the  greatell  de- 
ficiency of  reafon.  The  primitive  chriftians  alfo,  and 
the  firft  Proteftants,  found  that  their  adverfaries  had 
paflions,  which  they  were  always  ready  to  oppofe  to 
the  didates  of  reafon  j  and  that,  having  ^i.  little  to 
fay  for  themfelves,  they  were  as  irritable  as  the 
high  church  party  at  Birmingham.  But  this  cir- 
cumftance  was  no  fufficient  motive  with  the  pri- 
mitive chriftians,  or  the  Proteftants,  for  filence, 
nor  will  it  be  any  with  us;  and  if  this  writer,  or 
his  friends,  imagine  that  the  riots  in  Birmingham 
will  filence  us,  and  produce  no  writing,  he  will  be 
greatly  miftaken  indeed.  I  forefee  a  deluge  of 
pamphlets  on  the  occafion,  and  if  he  had  wifhed 
that  there  fliould  be  no  v/riting  on  our  fide,  he 
{hould  not  have  publilhed  on  his. 

If  this  writer  be  furprized  at  finding  nothing 
penitential  in  my  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Bir- 
mingham, others,  will  be  as  much  furprized  on 
finding  nothing  of  commi/eration  in  his  pamphlet, 
except  for  the  wretches  whom  he  expe6led  would 
be  executed  for  what  they  did  in  the  bufinefs.     Of 

this 


126      Stridiures  on  a  Tamphlef,  intitled 

this  he  has  drawn  an  afFedling  pi6lure  indeed,  as  of 
the  fufferings  of  fo  many  martyrs  to  the  church, 
and  to  rehgion.  "  This  riot,"  he  fays,  p.  3,  "  will 
*^  be  followed  with  the  facrifice  of  many  lives  on 
*^  the  altar  of  public  juftice.  Difconfolate  women 
"  are  foon  to  take  their  laft  embrace  of  their  huf- 
"  bands,  children  to  fhriek  at  the  fight  of  their  fa- 
"  thers  fufpended  before  their  own  doors,  and  heart- 
*'  broken  parents  to  follow  their  fons  to  the  fatal 
"  tree,  fom.e  of  whom,  had  they  not  been  put  in 
"  motion  by  the  ferment  his  writings  have  contri- 
"  buted  to  raife,  had  never  difturbed  the  peace  of 
"  fociety.  Had  there  been  any  fympathy  in  the 
"  heart  that  diftaced  the  letter,  on  the  events  that 
"  mud  draw  fuch  calamities  after  them,  there  had 
"  furely  been  one  line  exprefTive  of  fuch  a  fenfation. 
**  Let  the  reader  find  it,  if  he  can."  And  let  the 
reader  look  through  this  v^hole  pamphlet,  and 
find,  if  he  can,  any  thing  like  fuch  a  fellow-feeling 
for  the  innocent  fufferers,  that  he  here  exprelTes  for 
the  wicked  authors  of  their  fufferings.  In  a  Note, 
however,  on  this  paffage  (which  I  fuppofe  he 
thought  too  eloquently  written  to  be  loft)  the  author 
is  happy  "  to  find  that  his  ideas  were  not  fully  jufti- 
"  fied  by  the  iffue  of  the  late  afilzes  held  at  War- 
"  wick."  Indeed,  the  incomparable  behaviour  of 
the  magiflrates  and  of  the  jury,  and  the  proper  re- 
prefentations  made  to  the  king,  have  happily  faved 
this  writer  and  his  friends  much  of  the  pain  which 
they  expe6led  from  the  cruel  and  unmerited  fuffer- 
ings oilhtiv  fellow  churclymen.     Had  our  fufferings 

been 


Thoughts  on  the  Riot  at  Birmingham,      1 27 

been  ten  times  greater  than  they  have  been,  fo 
much  greater  would  have  been  their  pious  exulta- 
tion over  us. 

I  do  not  undertake  to  animadvert  upon  ever/ 
thing  that  deferves  animadverfion  in  this  pamphlet, 
out  I  cannot  conclude  thefe  ftri(5tures  without  ob- 
ferving  that,  as  a  compliment  to  the  church  of 
England,  againft  which  DifTenters  muil  not  write, 
the  author  fays,  p.  11,"  lays  it  any  reflraint  on  the 
"  fpirit  of  enquiry,  and  how  then  is  it  hoftile  to 
*^  the  cleareft  truth  ?"  Is  then  fubfcription  to  the 
thirty-nine  articles  at  an  age  in  which  it  is  impof- 
fible  for  perfons  to  have  fludied  them,  no  reftraint 
on  the  fpirit  of  enquiry ;  and  is  not  every  reflraint 
on  the  fpirit  of  enquiry  neceffarily  hoftile  to  truth  ? 
But  no  man  can  fee  the  darkeft  fpot  on  his  own 
forehead.  Other  wife  this  writer  could  not  but  have 
been  fenfible  of  this,  and  many  other  moft  glaring 
abfurdities  in  his  publication* 


APPENDIX. 


[       129      ] 


APPENDIX. 


N'l. 


Copy  of  a  Hand-hill  privately  circulated  in  Birming- 
ham, a  few  Days  before  the  Riots. 

MY  COUNTRYMEN, 

X  HE  fecond  year  of  Gallic  liberty  is  nearly 
expired.  At  the  commencement  of  the  third,  on  the  14th 
of  this  month,  it  is  devoutly  to  be  wifhed,  that  every  ene- 
my to  civil  and  religious  defpotifm  would  give  his  fandlion 
to  the  majejiic  common  caufc^  by  a  public  celebration  of  the 
anniverfary.  Remember  that  on  the  14th  of  July  the  Eaf- 
tile,  that  «  High  Altar  and  Caftle  of  Defpotifm"  fell.  Re- 
member the  enthufiafm  peculiar  to  the  caufe  of  Liberty, 
with  which  it  was  attacked.  Remember  that  generous 
humanity  that  taught  the  opprefled,  groaning  under  the 
weight  of  infulted  rights,  to  fave  the  lives  of  oppreflbrs  ! 
Extinguifh  the  mean  prejudices  of  nations  ;  and  let  your 
numbers  be  colleded,  and  fent  as  a  free-will  offering  to 
the  National  AiTembly. 

But  is  it  poflible  to  forget  that  your  own  Parliament  is 

venal  ?     Your  JNlinifter  hypocritical  ?     Your  Clergy  legal 

oppreflbrs  ?  The  reignins  Family  extravagant?  The  Crown 

"      K  of 


130  APPENDIX. 

of  a  certain  great  Perfonage  becoming  every  day  too 
weitrhty  for  the  head  that  wears  it  ?  Too  weighty  for  the 
people  who  gave  it?  Your  taxes  partial  and  exceffive? 
Your  reprefentation  a  cruel  infult  upon  the  facred  rights  of 
property,  religion,  and  freedom  ? 

But  on  the  r4th  of  this  month,  prove  to  the  political  fy- 
cophants  of  the  day,  that  You  reverence  the  Olive  Branch ; 
that  You  will  facrifice  to  public  tranquility,  till  the  majo- 
rity foall  exclaim.  The  Peace  of  Slavery  is  worfe  than  the 
War  of  Freedom.     Of  that  moment  let  Tyrants  beware. 


My  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham. 

My  late  Townfmen  and  Neighbours, 

AFTER  living  with  you  eleven  years,  in  which 
you  had  uniform  experience  of  my  peaceful  behaviour,  in 
my  attention  to  the  quiet  duties  of  my  profeflion,  and  thofe 
of  philofophy,  I  was  far  from  expedting  the  injuries  which 
I  and  my  friends  have  lately  received  from  you.  But  you 
have  been  mifled.  By  hearing  the  Diflenters,  and  particu- 
larly the  Unitarian  Diflenters,  continually  railed  at,  as  ene- 
mies to  the  prefent  government,  in  church  and  ftate,  you 
have  been  led  to  confider  any  injury  done  to  us  as  a  meri- 
torious thing;  and  not  having  been  better  informed,  the 
means  were  not  attended  to.  When  the  ohje^  was  right, 
you  thought  the  means  could  not  be  wrong.  By  the  dif- 
courfes  of  your  teachers,  and  the  exclamations  of  your 
fuperiors  in  general,  drinking  confufion  and  damnation  to 
us  (which  is  v/ ell  known  to  have  been  their  frequent  prac- 
tice) your  bigotry  has  been  excited  to  the  higheft  pitch,  and 
nothing  having  been  faid  to  you  to  moderate  your  palTions, 
but  every  thing  to  inflame  them  \  hence,  without  any  con- 

fideration 


APPENDIX.  131 

fideration  on  your  part,  or  on  theirs,  who  ought  to  have 
known,  and  taught  you  better,  you  were  prepared  for 
every  fpecies  of  outrage ;  thinking  that  whatever  you 
couJd  do  to  fpite  and  injure  us,  was  for  the  fupport  of  go- 
vernment, and  efpecially  the  church.  In  deftroying  us, 
you  have  been  led  to  think,  you  did  God  and  your  country 
the  moft  fubftantial  fervice. 

Happily,  the  minds  of  Englilhmen  have  an  horror  of 
murder^  and  therefore  yoy  did  not,  I  hope,  think  of  that ; 
though,  by  your  clamorous  demanding  of  tne  at  the  Hotel, 
it  is  probable,  that  at  that  time,  fome  of  you  intended  me 
fome  perfonal  injury.  But  what  is  the  value  of  life,  when 
every  thing  is  done  to  make  it  wretched?  In  many  cafes, 
there  would  be  greater  mercy  in  difpatching  the  inhabi- 
tants, than  in  burning  their  houfes.  However,  I  infinitely 
prefer  what  I  feel  from  the  fpoiling  of  my  goods^  to  the  dif- 
pofition  of  thofe  who  have  milled  you. 

You  have  deftroyed  the  moft  truly  valuable  and  ufeful 
apparatus  of  philofophical  inftruments,  that  perhaps  any 
individual,  in  this  or  any  other  country,  was  ever  poffefled 
of;  in  my  ufe  of  which  I  annually  fpent  large  fums,  with 
no  pecuniary  view  whatever,  but  only  in  the  advancement 
of  fcience,  for  the  benefit  of  my  country,  and  of  mankind. 
You  have  deftroyed  a  library  correfponding  to  that  appa- 
ratus, which  no  money  can  re-purchafc,  except  in  a  long 
courfe  of  time.  But  what  I  feel  far  more,  you  have  de- 
ftroyed manufcripts^  which  have  been  the  refult  of  the  la- 
borious ftudy  of  many  years,  and  which  I  fhall  never  be 
able  to  re-compofe ;  and  this  has  been  done  to  one  who 
never  did,  or  imagined  you  any  harm. 

I  know  nothing  more  of  the  hand-bill^  which  is  faid  to 
have  enraged  you  fo  much,  than  any  of  yourfelves,  and  I 
difapprove  of  it  as  much;  though  it  has  been  made  the 
ofi:enfible  handle  of  doing  infinitely  more  mifchief  than  any 
thing  of  that  nature  could  pofiibly  have  done.  In  the  cele- 
bration of  the  French  Revolution,  at  which  I  did  not  at- 
tend, the  company  aflembled  on  the  occaAon,  only  exprelTed 

K  2  their 


132  APPENDIX. 

their  joy  in  the  emancipation  of  a  neighbouring  nation 
from  tyranny,  without  intimating  a  defire  of  any  thing 
more  than  fuch  an  improvem  nt  of  our  own  conftitution, 
as  all  fober  aitizens,  of  every  perfuafion  have  long  wiflied 
for.  And  though,  in  anfwer  to  the  grofs  and  unprovoked 
calumnies  of  Mr.  Madan,  and  others,  I  publicly  vindicated 
my  principles  as  aDiflenter,  it  was  only  with  plain  and  fober 
argument,  and  with  perfeil  good  humour.  We  are  better 
inftruded  in  the  mild  and  forbearing  fpirit  of  chriftianity, 
than  ever  to  think  of  having  recourfe  to  violence ;  and  can 
you  think  fuch  condu6l  as  yours  any  recommendation  of 
your  religious  principles  in  preference  to  ours  ? 

You  are  ftill  more  miflaken,  if  you  imagine  that  this 
condu6i:  of  yours  has  any  tendency  to  ferve  your  caufe,  or 
to  prejudice  ours.  It  is  nothing  but  reafon  and  argument 
that  can  ever  fupport  any  fyftem  of  religion.  Anfwer 
our  arguments,  and  your  bufinefs  is  done ;  but  your  hav- 
ing recourfe  to  violence^  is  only  a  proof  that  you  have 
nothing  better  to  produce.  Should  you  deftroy  myfelf  as 
well  as  my  houfe,  library,  and  apparatus,  ten  more  perfons, 
of  equal  or  fuperior  fpirit  and  ability,  would  inftantly  rife 
up.  If  thofe  ten  were  deftroyed,  an  hundred  would  appear; 
and  believe  me,  that  the  church  of  England,  which  you 
now  think  you  are  fupporting,  has  received  a  greater  blow 
by  this  condu6l  of  yours,  than  I  and  all  my  friends  have 
ever  aimed  at  it. 

Befides,  to  abufe  thofe  who  have  no  power  of  making 
refiftance,  is  equally  cowardly  and  brutal,  peculiarly  un- 
worthy of  Englifhmen,  to  fay  nothing  of  chriftianity,  which 
teaches  us  to  do  as  we  would  be  done  by.  In  this  bufinefs 
we  are  the  (heep,  and  you  the  wolves.  We  will  preferve  our 
character,  and  hope  you  will  change  yours.  At  all  events, 
we  return  you  bleffings  for  curfes ;  and  pray  that  you  may 
foon  return  to  that  induftry,  and  thofe  fober  manners,  for 
which  the  inhabitants  of  Birmingham  were  formerly  dif- 
tinguiflied. 

I  am  your  fincere  well-wifher, 
London,  July  19,1791.  J.  PRIESTLEY. 


r  133  3 

N"  III. 

An  Account  of  the  Origin  of  the  Riots  in  Birminghmn, 
from  a  Newffaper  called  the  The  Times. 

Tuefday,  July  19,  lygt. 

BY  every  account  which  has  arrived  from  Birming- 
ham, and  from  authenticated  fails  in  corroboration  of  what 
we  have  ah'eady  aflerted,  it  is  an  indifputable  truth,  that  the 
motives  which  occafioned  the  havoc  already  made  among 
the  Diflenters  at  Birmingham,  and  which  is  ftill  in  con- 
tinuance, folely  fprung  from  the  loyalty  of  the  people,  and 
the  utter  abhorrence  in  which  the  principles  of  a  republican 
fyftem  of  government  are  held  by  the  public  at  large. 

The  public  were  determined  before  they  proceeded  to 
violence,  to  have  fome  further  proof  of  the  intention  of 
thofe  commemoration  men.  The  hand-bill  might  be  a 
forgery, — or  might  be  an  infidious  fcheme  to  raife  a  mob 
for  the  purpofe  of  plunder ; — they  therefore  waited  until 
they  heard  what  was  faid  at  table — how  the  political 
complexion  of  the  company  would  manifeft  itfelf, — and 
whether  any  thing  more  than  a  mere  fcene  of  commemo- 
ration conviviality  was  intended. 

They  had  indeed  their  fufpiclons,  and  thofe  fufpicions, 
after  the  firft  courfe  were  realifed,  by  the  following  toaft 
being  drank ; — 

'destruction   to  the  present   government AND 

THE  king's  head  UPON  A  CHARGER.'' 

The  inhabitants,  and  they  Mere  almoft  to  a  man  re- 
fpeftable  houfekeepers  and  manufa6lurers,  who  waited  out- 
fide  the  Hotel  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  Revolutionifts 
within,  no  fooner  had  this  treafonable  toaft  made  known 
to  them,  than  loyalty  fwift  as  lightning  fhot  through 
their  minds,  and  a  kind  of  eledrical  patriotifm  animated 
them  to  inftant  vengeance.  They  rufhed  into  this  con- 
venticle of  treafon,  and  before  the  fecond  courfe  was  well 

K  3  laid 


134  APPENDIX. 

laid  upon  the  table,  broke  the  windows  and  glafTes,  pelted 
and  infulted  thefe  modern  reformers,  and  obliged  them  to 
feek  for  fafety  In  immediate  flight. 

An  inflammatory  bill  in  Dodtor  Prieftley's  hand- 
writing was  found  among  his  papers,  and  has  been  tranf- 
mitted  to  the  Secretary  of  State.. ..The  Do6lor  is  at  Kid- 
derminfter,  to  which  place  it  is  faid  the  populace  mean  to 
follow  him.  His  doilrines,  they  avow,  were  meant  to 
fubvert  the  Conftitution. 

Mr.  Parker,  a  very  eminent  attorney,  is  the  perfon  who 
fent  up  the  inflammatory  and  treafonable  paper  found  in 
Priefi:ley's  houfe,  and  in  the  Doflor's  own  hand,  which  it 
is  thought  is  a  full  ground  for  profecution. 


N'   V. 

Mr.  RuJfeWs  Letter  to  the  Editor  of  the  Morning 
Chronicle. 

SIR, 

BEING  in  London,  aind  feeing  in  The  Times 
of  yeflerday  the  moil:  atrocious  calumny  that  was  ever 
laid  before  the  public,  I  feel  it  my  duty  immediately  to 
contradict  it  in  the  mofl:  pointed  terms.  I  do  therefore 
declare,  that  the  narrative  of  the  Birmingham  Confti- 
tutional  Dinner  is  materially  untrue;  and  that  the  ac- 
count given  of  the  firji  Toaji^  in  The  Times-^  is  a  mofl: 
flagrant  falfehood.     It  was.  The  King  and  Conftitution. 

The  Meeting  broke  up  without  the  leaft  riot  or  dif- 
turbance. — That  the  public  may  judge,  whether  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  day,  and  the  Toafts,  were  or  were  not 
reprehenflble,  the  following  true  narrative  is  now  pro- 
duced, the  authenticity  and  truth  of  which  I  will  vouch 
for. 

The 


APPENDIX.  13s 

The  proceedings  of  the  day  were  preceded  by  an 
advertlfement  in  the  Birmingham  Chronicle,  publilhed 
that  morning,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

Birmingham  Commemoration  of  the  French  Revolution. 

Several  Hand-hills  having  been  circulated  in  the  Town,  which 
can  only  be  intended  to  create  diftruft  concerning  the  intention  of 
the  Meeting,  to  difturb  its  harmony,  and  inflame  the  minds  of  the 
people;  the  Gentlemen  who  propofed  it,  think  it  neceffary  to  declare 
their  entire  diiapprobation  of  all  I'uch  Hand-bills,  and  thtir  ignorance 
of  the  authors.  —  Senfible  themfelves  of  the  advantages  of  a  free 
Government,  they  rejoice  in  the  extenfion  of  Liberty  to  their  neigh- 
bours, at  the  fame  time  avowing,  in  the  moft  explicit  manner,  their 
firm  attachment  to  the  Conftitution  of  their  own  Country,  as  vcfted 
in  the  Three  Eftates  of  King,  Lords,  and  Commons :  Surely  no 
free-born  Englifhman  can  refrain  from  exulting  in  this  addition  to 
the  general  mafs  of  human  happlnefs.  It  is  the  caufe  of  humanitjy 
it  is  the  caufe  of  the  people. 
Birmingham^  July  13,  1 7  9 1 . 

In  the  morning,  however,  after  this  was  publifhed, 
many  rumours  of  the  probability  of  a  riot  were  brought 
to  the  friends  of  the  Meeting ;  and  as  there  was  too 
much  reafon  to  think  that  means  had  been  ufed  to  pro- 
mote one,  they  determined  to  poflpone  the  intended 
Dinner,  and  accordingly  agreed  to  put  it  oif,  and  pre- 
pared a  hand-bill  for  that  purpofe,  of  which  the  follow- 
ing is  a  copy : 

Intended  Commemoration  of  the  French  Re'volution. 

The  Friends  of  the  intended  Feftivlty,  finding  that  their  views 
and  intention,  in  confequence  of  being  mifconceived  by  fome,  and 
mifrcprefented  by  others,  have  cieated  an  alarm  in  the  minds  of  the 
majority  of  the  town,  and  it  is  thought,  endangered  its  tranquility, 
inform  their  neighbours  that  they  value  the  peace  of  the  town  far 
beyond  the  gratification  of  a  Feltival,  and  tlierefore  have  determined 
to  give  up  their  intentions  of  dining  at  the  Hotel  upon  this  occafion ; 
and  they  very  gladly  improve  this  renewed  opportunity  of  declarmg 
that  they  are  to  this  hour  entirely  ignorant  of  the  Author,  Printer,  or 
Publifher,  of  the  inflammatory  Hand-bill  circulated  on  Monday. 

This  was  fent  to  the  Printer ;  but  before  he  had  com- 
pofed  it,  Mr.  Dadley,  the  Mailer  of  the  Hotel,  attended, 

in 


136  APPENDIX. 

in  confequence  of  having  the  Dinner  countermanded ; 
and  reprefented,  that  he  was  fure  there  was  no  danger  of 
any  tumult,  and  recommended  that  the  Dinner  might 
be  had  as  was  intended ;  only  propofmg,  that  the  gentle- 
men fhould  take  care  to  break  up  early,  and  then  all 
danger  would  be  avoided.  This  meafure  was  then  adopted, 
and  orders  given  to  the  Printer  to  fupprefs  the  hand-bill. 
Accordingly  there  was  a  meeting  of  eighty-one  gentle- 
men, inhabitants  of  the  town  and  neighbourhood,  at  the 
Great  Room  in  the  Hotel,  where  they  dined  and  pafled 
the  afternoon  with  that  fecial,  temperate,  and  benevolent 
feftivity,  which  the  confideration  of  the  great  event,  which 
has  diffufed  liberty  and  happinefs  among  a  large  portion 
of  the  human  race,  infpired. 

The  following  Toafts  were  drunk,  and  were  agreeably 
intermixed  with  fongs,  compofed  and  fung  by  fome  of 
the  company. 

I.  The  King  and  Conftitution 

a.  The  National  Afl'embly  and  Patriots  of  France,  whofe  virtue 
and  wifdom  have  raifed  twenty-fix  millions  from  the  mean  condition 
of  fubjefts  of  defpotifm,  to  the  dignity  and  happinefs  of  freemen. 

3.  The  Majefty  of  the  People. 

4.  May  the  New  Conftitution  of  France  be  rendered  perfe6l 
and  perpetual. 

5.  May  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  France,  unite  in  perpetual 
friendfhip,  and  may  their  only  rivalftiip  be  the  extenfion  of  Peace  and 
Liberty,  Wifdom  and  Virtue. 

6.  The  Rights  of  Man.  May  all  nations  have  the  wifdom  to 
underftand,  and  the  courage  to  affert  and  defend  them. 

7.  The  tine  Friends  of  the  Conllitution  of  this  Country,  who  wifh 
to  preferve  its  fpirit,  by  corre6lIng  its  abufes. 

8.  May  the  People  of  England  never  ceafe  to  remonftrate,  till 
their  Parliament  becomes  a  true  National  Reprefentalion. 

9  The  Prince  of  Wales. 

10  The  United  States  of  America.  May  they  for  ever  enjoy  the 
Liberty  which  they  have  fo  honourably  acquired. 

I I .  May  the  late  Revolution  in  Poland  prove  the  harbinger  of  a 
more  perfeft  fyftem  of  Liberty  extending  to  that  great  Kingdom. 

iz.  May  the  Nations  of  Europe  become  fo  enlightened  as  never 
more  to  be  deluged  into  favage  wars,  by  the  mad  ambition  of  their 
rulers, 

13.  May 


APPENDIX.  137 

15.  May  the  fword  be  never  unflieathed,  but  for  the  defence  and 
liberty  of  our  country,  and  then,  may  every  man  caft  away  the  fcab- 
bard,  until  the  people  are  fafe  and  free. 

14..  To  the  glorious  memory  of  Hampden  and  Sydney,  and  other 
heroes  of  all  ages  and  nations,  who  have  fought  and  bled  for  Uberty. 

15.  To  the  memory  of  Dr.  Price,  and  of  all  thofe  illuftrious  fages 
who  have  enlightened  mankind  on  the  true  principles  of  civil  fociety. 

16.  Peace  and  good-will  to  all  mankind. 

17.  Profperity  to  the  town  of  Birmingham. 

18.  A  happy  Meeting  to  all  the  Friends  of  Liberty  on  the  14th  of 
July,  1792. 

It  is  but  juftlce  to  the  liberality  and  public  fpirit  of  an 
ingenious  Artift  of  this  town  to  mention,  that  he  decorated 
the  room  upon  this  occafion  with  three  elegant  emble- 
matic pieces  of  fculpture,  inixed  with  painting,  in  a  new  ftile 
of  compofition.  The  central  piece  was  a  finely  executed 
medallion  of  his  majefty,  encircled  with  a  glory,  on  each 
fide  of  which  was  an  alabafter  obeliik;  the  one  exhibiting 
Gallic  liberty  breaking  the  bands  of  defpotifm,  and  the 
other  reprefenting  Britifli  liberty  in  its  prefent  enjoyment. 

A  truly  refpedable  gentleman,  a  member  of  the  church 
of  England,  was  Chairman — others  of  that  profeffion 
were  of  the  companj-,  nor  was  a  fingle  fentiment  uttered, 
or,  I  believe,  conceived,  that  would  hurt  the  feelings  of 
any  one  friend  to  liberty  and  good  government,  under 
the  happy  conftitution  we  are  bleffed  with  in  this  king- 
dom.— I  aver  this  to  be  a  true  and  juft  reprefentation  of 
the  proceedings  which  have  been  fo  fcandaloufly  mifre- 
prefented  in  the  Paper  above-mentioned ;  and  am. 

Sir, 
London,  July  ao,  Your  obedient  fervant, 

1791.  WILLIAM  RUSSELL. 


N'N. 

Mr.  Keir*s  Letter  to  the  Printer  of  the  Birmingham 
and  Stafford  Chronicle. 

Mr.  Printer, 

AS  I  find  that  many  grofs  falfhoods  have  been 
circulated  through  the  country,  in  order  to  inflame  the 
minds  of  the  people  concerning  the  meeting  held  laft 
Thurfday,  to  commemorate  the  French  Revolution,  I 
■will  beg  leave  to  flate  what  I  myfelf  have  had  occafion 
to  know  refpedting  that  fubjeft. — Some  gentlemen  in 
Birmingham  had  propofed  by  an  advertifement  in  the 
newfpapers,  to  hold  a  meeting  of  the  friends  of  liberty 
and  of  mankind,  at  the  Hotel,  to  commemorote  the  French 
Revolution,  in  the  fame  manner  as  was  done  in  London, 
and  many  other  parts  in  the  kingdom.  Two  days  before 
the  time  appointed  for  this  meeting,  a  very  refpeclable 
gentleman  called  on  me,  and  faid  he  came  to  tell  me, 
that  it  was  the  general  wifh  of  thofe  who  intended  to 
meet,  that  I  (hculd  be  their  chairman  on  the  occafion. 
I  accepted  the  compliment,  and  promifed  to  come  to 
Birmingham  to  attend,  never  conceiving  that  a  peaceable 
meeting,  for  the  purpofe  of  rejoicing  that  twenty-fix 
millions  of  our  fellow-creatures  were  refcued  from  def- 
potifm,  and  made  as  free  and  happy  as  we  Britons  are, 
could  be  mifinterpreted  as  being  ofFenfive  to  a  govern- 
ment, whofe  greateft  boaft  is  liberty,  or  to  any  who  pro- 
fefs  the  chriftian  religion,  which  orders  us  to  love  our 
neighbours  as  ourfelves. — We  accordingly  met  and  dined 
with  the  greateft  peace  and  harmony,  and  after  drinking 
fome  toafts,  expreffive  in  the  firft  place  of  our  loyalty  to 
our  own  K'^ng  and  ConJIitution  ;"and  in  the  fecond  place,  of 
our  joy  at  the  happinels  which  the  French  have  acquired 
by  their  new  Conftitution,  we  diflblved  the  meeting 
entirely,  in  the  greateft  order,  between  five  and  fix  in  the 

evening, 


APPENDIX.  139 

evening,,  and  quitted  the  Hotel,  every  man  retiring  fepa- 
rately  to  his  home,  or  to  his  private  affairs.  I  returned 
to  my  houfe  in  the  country-,  nor  knew  of  the  difturbances 
till  next  day.  The  meeting  in  London  was  conduced 
with  the  fame  decorum,  nor  has  there  been  an  inilance,  as 
far  as  I  know,  in  the  many  fimilar  meetings  throughout 
England,  of  the  fmallefl  irregularity  attempted  by  them. 
Now,  Mr.  Print.?r,  as  actions  are  the  beft  interpreters  of 
men's  intentions,  it  is  evident  that  the  malicious  infmu- 
ations,  that  thefe  meetings  were  intended  to  didurb  the 
peace  and  government  of  the  country,  have  been  by  the 
event  proved  to  he  faifc  and  groundlefs. 

I  have  lately  heard  that  it  is  reported  that  we  drank 
difloyal  and  feditious  toafts.  Now  the  very  firft  toaft  that 
was  gi\en  was.  The  King  and  the  Con/iltution.  I  do  not 
know  any  words  in  the  Englifh  language  expreffive  of 
greater  loyalty ;  and  one  of  the  laft  was.  Peace  and  good- 
will to  all  mankind.,  which  cannot  eafily  be  interpreted  to 
excite  people  to  tumult.  1  fhall  hereafter  publifli  a  lift 
of  all  the  toafts,  which  were  altogether  in  the  fame  fpirit  of 
loyalty,  peace,  and  charity. 

A  fecond  report  is,  that  Juflice  Carlefs  was  infulted 
and  turned  out  of  the  room.  The  hSt  is,  that  Juftice 
Carlefs  never  was  in  the  room,  and  therefore  it  is  not  eafy 
to  conceive  how  he  could  be  turned  out.  I  will  add,  that 
I  have  not  the  fmalleft  doubt,  that  if  that  gentleman  had 
come,  he  would  have  been  received  with  due  refpe61:. 

A  third  falfe  report  was,  that  a  feditious  hand-bill  had 
been  diftributed  by  the  members  of  the  meeting,  on  fome 
preceding  day.  A  feditious  and  truly  infamous  hand-bill 
had  been  diftributed,  it  is  true,  but  by  whom  written  or 
diftributed  is  not  known.  It  is  heartily  to  be  wifhed  that 
the  perfons  concerned  may  be  difcovered,  and  punifhed 
according  to  law.  As  foon  as  the  gentlemen  of  Birming- 
ham, who  had  concerted  the  Commemoration  Meetins, 
faw  this  hand-bill,  they  perceived  that  the  effect,  and  per- 
haps the  intention  of  it,  was  to  inflame  the  mob  againft 

them, 


HO  APPENDIX, 

them,  and  they  Immediately  publifhed  in  the  Thurfday's 
newfpaper,  an  advertifement  declaring  their  difavowal  of 
this  hand-bill,  and  their  own  loyal  attachment  to  the 
King,  Lords,  and  Commons.  They  alfo  fent  hand-bills 
with  copies  of  this  advertifement  all  over  Birmingham. 
It  was  not  pofTible  for  them  to  do  any  thing  more  effectual 
to  prevent  any  bad  effects  from  this  feditious  paper,  or  to 
refcue  themfelves  from  the  calumny  of  their  being  the 
authors  of  it. 

The  laft  falfe  report  that  I  have  heard  relative  to  that 
meeting  is  concerning  Dr.  Prieftley's  behaviour  there.  To 
this  I  fuppofe  it  will  be  fufficient  to  anfwer,  that  Dr, 
Fr'iejlley  was  not  prrfent. 

Thefe  are  all  the  reports  which  I  have  heard,  but  I 
doubt  not  there  may  be  many  others,  of  the  truth  of 
which  every  man  of  common  fenfe  will  judge  from  what 
I  have  faid  of  thofe  which  have  come  to  my  knowledge. 
Neverthelefs,  thefe  falfe  reports  are  all  the  pretences  for 
the  late  horrible  riots  ;    but  the  event  lliews  that  they 
were  only  pretences,  and  that  the  DiiTenters  were  the  true 
objeft  of  the  fury  of  the  mob,  as  many  of  thofe  gentlemen 
who  have  fufFered  from  the  riots  were  not  prefent.    For 
the  bufinefs  of  the  Commemoration  meetings  had  nothing 
to  do  with  reUgious  dill:in£lions,  and  were  in  other  parts 
compofed  of  churchmen,  catholics,  and  diflenters.     It  is 
true,  that  in  Birmingham,  the  majority  were  Diflenters; 
but  It  is  evident  that  they  did  not  wifh  it  to  be  diftinguifhed 
as  a  party  meeting,  when  they  did  me  the  honour  to  chufe 
me  as  their  chairman,  who,  it  was  evident,  muft  have  con- 
formed, in  order  to  qualify  myfelf  for  the  commifllons 
which  I  have  held  in  the  army,  to  all  the  formalities  pre- 
fcribed  by  the  Teft  A6t,  and  who  never  was  prefent  in  a 
diflenting  meeting  above  once  or  twice  in  England;  al- 
tliough  I  have  the  greateft  regard  for  the  diflenting  in- 
dividuals whom  I  know,  among  whom  are  feveral  of  the 
late  unfortunate  vidims,  men  as  peaceable,  refpedlable,  and 
loyal  as  any  in  the  kingdom.     But  as  the  fubje£l  of  the 

commemoration 


APPENDIX.  141 

commemoration  meeting  was  quite  unknown  to  the  ig- 
norant part  of  the  people,  it  gave  an  opportunity  of 
raifing  any  lies  that  were  neceflary  to  inflame  the  mob  to 
execute  their  horrid  purpofes.— But  that  the  proceedings 
of  the  meeting  were  innocent,  peaceable,  and  honour- 
able, and  alfo  free  from  every  fubjeil  relative  to  religious 
parties,  I  folemnly  affirm.     I  am,  Mr.  Printer, 

Yours,  &c. 

JAMES  KEIR. 

Wefl  Bromzuich  July  20,    1791. 


N"  VI. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  to  me^  printed  in  a  column  oppofite 
to  my  own  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham^ 
and  thrown  into  many  houfes  in  London  with  the 
title  of  Self-murder,  or  the  Doctor  tried 

AND  CONVICTED    BY  HIS  OWN  EVIDENCE. 
SIR, 

Y  OU  have  appealed  to  the  public  in  vindica- 
tion of  your  conduft,  and  lamented  your  lofles  with  the 
feelings  of  a  man;  they  are  great,  becaufe  in  one  refpe<St 

irreparable. 

But  whilft  I  join  with  the  public  in  regretting  the  de- 
ftruftion  of  your  philofophical  property,  it  pains  me  ta 
aver  that  you  have  not  proved  your  political  innocence. 

You  and  your  friends  have  been  charged  as  enemies 
to  the  prefent  fyftem  of  Government:  let  us  examine 
how  you  attempt  to  difprove  that  aflertion 

You  fay,  that  your  friends  met  to  exprefs  their  joy  at 
the  French  Revoluton,  and  to  intimate  a  defire  that  an 
improvement  fliould  take  place  in  our  couftitution. 

Does 


142  APPENDIX. 

Does  the  inference  to  be  drawn  from  this,  prove  you, 
and  thofe  of  your  perfuafion,  to  be  friends  to  the  prefent 
eftablifhed  Government? — Surely  not. 

By  celebrating  the  French  P.evolution,  you  give  your 
fanction  to  the  fyftem  adopted  in  that  country.  If  you  did 
not  fandtion,  you  would  not  celebrate ;  and  by  befiring  an 
improvement,  at  the  fame  moment,  in  the  Britifli  confti- 
tution,  you  declare  yourfelf  inimical  to  our  government  in 
its  prefent  form.  He  who  is  inimical  to  any  matter,  can- 
not be  a  friend ;  and  the  oppofite  to  that  character  is,  of 
courfe,  an  enemy.  Your  letter  has  afforded  me  thefe 
premifes,  and  the  conclufion  is  fairly  drawn,  from  that 
which  is  fully  eftabliflied. 

It  is  not  your  religious,  but  your  political  fentiments 
which  are  thought  dangerous  to  the  ftate.  The  Prefbyte- 
rians  certainly  approve  the  conducl  of  that  ufurped  autho- 
rity which  decollated  the  unhappy  Charles.  Our  con- 
ftitution  confiders  that  bloody  a£l  of  common-wealth  ty- 
ranny, to  be  a  martyrdom.  The  difference  in  political 
fentiments  on  this  great  point,  can  therefore  never  be  re- 
conciled. It  is  as  oppofite  as  monarchy  and  repub- 
licanlfm  can  make  it.  Were  I  to  afk  you,  if  the  do6lrine 
laid  down  by  Mr.  Paine  in  his  Rights  of  Man^  coincided 
with  your  principles  ? — you  would  certainly  fay  that  "  it 
does."  You  cannot  fuccefsfully  controvert  that  affertion. 

Now,  Sir,  this  publication  of  Mr.  Paine's  is  a  grofs 
libel  upon  the  fpirit  and  letter  of  the  Britifli  conftitution, 
and  as  it  is  received  into  your  community  as  a  political 
truth,  and  that  in  approving  fuch  doflrine,  you  and  your 
friends  cannot  difapprove  the  French  Revolution,  I  v/i(h 
to  know  what  fort  of  amendment  you  would  make  to  the 
Britifli  government. 

You  have  made  a  diftindion  in  your  letter,  between 
the  conftitvitional  fubjefls  of  Great  Britain  and  your  fe6l, 
You  divide  them  by  faying,  "  our  caufe,"  and  "  your 
"  caufe."  The  conftitutional  fubje61:s'  caufe^  is  the  pre- 
fent government  in  church  and  ftate, — your  caufe  mufl: 

be 


APPENDIX.  143 

be  the  oppofite  to  that;— and  therefore  it  is  fome  other 
kind  of  government  in  church  and  ftate;  and  though  you 
have  not  direilly  faid  that  you  ever  attacked  the  ftate,  you 
fairly  acknowledge  to  have  given  our  church  a  blow: — 
Your  words  are,  "  The  church  of  England,  which  you 
"  now  think  you  are  fupporting,  has  received  a  greater 
*'  blow  by  this  conduct,  than  I  and  all  my  friends  have 
"  ever  aimed  at  it.'"  This  is  a  direct  avowal  that  you 
and  your  friends  have  aimed  a  blow  at  our  religious 
rights. 

Do  you  call  this  peaceably  following  your  ftudies  as  a 
minifler  of  the  gofpel  and  a  philofopher?— No,  Mr. 
Prieftley,  it  is  fuch  kind  of  turbulent  conduit  that  has 
brought  you  and  your  friends  into  the  prefent  fituation. 

Had  you,  Sir,  and  thofe  of  your  perfuafion,  quietly  at- 
tended the  duties  of  your  refpedive  ftations,  and  left  the 
Proteftant  church  and  the  Britifli  government  to  the  care 
of  thofe  who  are  appointed  by  the  conftitution,  as  Repre- 
fentatives  of  the  people,  to  guard  and  protedl  them ;  you 
might  have  enjoyed  that  eafe,  happinefs  and  peace  which 
every  good  fubject  is  entitled  to  expe6l  from  the  excel- 
lence of  our  laws,  and  the  honour  and  integrity  of  thofe 
men  who  compofe  the  three  branches  of  the  legiflature. 

July  20,  1791.  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 


N'  VII. 

Copy  of  a  Hand-hill  diflributed  in  London  the  day 
after  I  arrived  there. 
Dr.  Priestley  is  a  damned  rafcal,  an  enemy 
both  to  the  religious  and  political  conftitution  of  this 
country,  a  fellow  of  a  treafonable  mind,  consequently  a 
bad  chriftian :  for  it  is  not  only  the .  duty,  but  the  glo- 
rious ambition,  of  every  good  chriftian  to  fear  God  and 
honour  the  King. 

No.  viir. 


[     144    ] 

N"  VIII. 

Copes  of  two  Hand-hills  dijlrihuted  among  the 
Rioters. 

Birmingham,  July  i6,  1791. 
Friends  and  Fellovj  Countrymen, 

IT  is  earneftly  requefted  that  every  true  friend 
to  the  Church  of  England^  and  to  the  laws  of  his  country, 
will  refledl  how  much  a  continuance  of  the  prefent  pro- 
ceedings mull  injure  that  Church  and  that  King  they  are 
intended  to  fupport;  and  how  highly  unlawful  it  is  to  deftroy 
the  rights  and  property  of  any  of  our  neighbours.  And 
all  true  friends  to  the  town  and  trade  of  Birmingham,  in 
particular^  are  intreated  to  forbear  immediately  from  all 
riotous  and  violent  proceedings ;  difperfing  and  returning 
peaceably  to  their  trades  and  callings,  as  the  only  way  to 
do  credit  to  themfehes  and  their  caufe-^  and  to  promote  the 
peace,  happinefs,  and  profperity  of  this  great  and  flourifh- 
ing  town. 


Birmingham,  Sunday,  July  17,  1791. 

Important  Information  to  the  Friends  of  Church 
and  King. 

Friends  and  Felloiv  Churchmen, 

BEING  convinced  you  are  unacquainted,  that 
the  great  loffes  which  are  fuftained  by  your  burning  and 
defiroying  of  the  houfes  of  fo  many  individuals,  will  even- 
tually fall  upon  the  county  at  large^  and  not  upon  the 
perfons  to  whom  they  belonged,  we  feel  it  our  duty  to 
inform  you,  that  the  damacres  already  done,  upon  the  bed 
computation  that  can  be  made,  will  amount  to  upwards 
of  One  Hundred  Thoufand  Pounds  y  the  whole  of  which 

enormous 


APPENDIX.  145 

enormous  fum  will  be  charged  upon  the  refpedlive  parishes, 
and  paid  out  of  the  rates.  We,  therefore,  as  youT  friends, 
conjure  you  immediately  to  defift  from  the  deftruilion  of 
Ghy  more  houfes,  otherwife  the  very  proceedings  of  your 
%eal  for  (hewing  your  attachment  to  the  Church  and 
King,  will  inevitably  be  the  means  of  moil:  ferioufly 
injuring  innumerable  families,  who  are  hearty  fupporters 
of  Government,  and  bring  on  an  addition  of  taxes,  which 
yourfehes,  and  the  reft  of  the  Friends  of  the  Churchy  will  for 
years  feel  a  very  grievous  burthen. 

This  we  aflure  you  was  the  cafe  in  London,  when 
there  were  fo  many  houfes,  and  public  buildings  burnt 
and  deftroyed  in  the  year  1780,  and  you  may  rely  upon  it, 
will  be  the  cafe  on  the  prefent  occafion.  And  we  muft 
obferve  to  you,  that  any  further  violent  proceedings  will 
more  offend  your  King  and  Country  than  ferve  the  caufe 
of  Him  and  the  Church. 

Fellow  Churchmen,  as  you  love  your  King,  regard  his 
laws,  and  reftore  peace. 

God  save  the  King. 


AyUsford 
E.  Finch 
Robert  Lawley 
Robert  Lawley,  Jun, 
R.  Moland 
W.  Digby 
Edward  Carver 
John  Brooke 


J.  Carlefs 
B.  Spencer 
H.  Gref.  Lewis 
Charles  Curtis 
Spencer  Madan 
Edward  Palmer 
W.  Fillers 
W.  W.  Mafon 


No.  IX. 


f  146  1 

N'  IX. 

TO  THE  KING'S  MOST  EXCELLENT  MAJESTY. 

The  humble  Addrefs  of  the  High  Bailiff,  Clergy,  and  other  principal 
Inhabitants  of  the  Town  and  Neighbourhood  of  Birmingham. 

*•  May  it  f  leafs  your  Majefiy^ 

"  W  E,  your  Majefty's  moft  dutiful  and  loyal 
fubje6ls,  the  High  Bailiff,  Clergy,  and  other  principal  in- 
habitants of  the  town  and  neighbourhood  of  Birming- 
ham, deeply  fenfible  of  your  Majefty's  paternal  care  of  all 
your  fubje6ts,  beg  leave  moft  humbly  to  approach  your 
royal  throne,  with  hearts  full  of  gratitude  for  the  recent 
inftance  of  that  care  which  your  Majefty  gracioufly  conde- 
fcended  to  afford  us  during  the  late  riots  in  this  place,  by 
commanding  fuch  particular  attention  to  be  paid  to  our 
fecurity,  and  directing  fuch  ample  relief  for  our  neceffities. 
"  Rejoicing  alfo  in  every  opportunity  of  teftifying  our 
loyalty  to  the  beft  of  Sovereigns,  and  our  firm  attachment 
to  that  noble  fabric  the  conftitution  of  this  country,  the 
€nvy  of  all  other  nations,  as  it  is  the  glory  of  our  own ; 
We  cannot  negleft  this  occafion  of  pledging  ourfelves  to 
fupport  your  Majefty's  illuftrious  houfe,  and  to  defend  that 
happy  conftitution  both  in  church  and  ftate,  againft  every 
attempt  at  innovation,  at  the  rilk  of  every  thing  dear  to  us." 


The  Addrefs  of  the  Diffenters  to  the  King. 

**  Moft  Gracious  Sovereign, 

"  W  E,  your  Majefty's  loyal  and  dutiful  fub- 
je<Ss,  the  Proteftant  Diffenters  in  the  town  of  Birming- 
ham, beg  leave  to  approach  your  Majefty  in  a  moment  of 
ferious  afflidlion  and  concern,  arifing  not  only  from  our 
recent  aggravated  fufferings,  but  from  our  painful  appre- 
henfions  left  the  calumnies  of  our  enemies  fhould  influ- 
ence your  royal  mind,  and  infinuate  fufpicions  of  our 
loyalty  and  affet^ion. 

Aflured 


APPENDIX.  14? 

AlTured  not  of  our  innocence  alone,  but  of  our  un- 
alterable attachment  to  your  auguft  perfon,  and  to  the 
fucceffion  of  your  Royal  Houfe,    we  refpeitfully  claim 
your  Majefty's  continued  prote6lion  and  favour,  and  beg 
leave  moll  earneftly  to  alTure  your  Majefty,  we  have  no 
thoughts   of  difturbing  the  Conftitution.    We  are  the 
defendants  of  thofe  to  whom  (as  the  annals  of  our 
country  will  teftify)   the  Revolution,  which  fecured  to 
your  illuftrious  houfe  the  crown  of  thefe  kingdoms,  was 
greatly  indebted.     The  civil  conftitution  of  our  country 
is  our  pride  and  our  glory ;  which  we  have  been  taught 
from  our  infancy  to  revere,  and  which  we  would  die  to 
preferve.     Indeed,   Sire,  though  deeply  afflided  by  the 
late  riotous  devaftations,  and  by  the  want  of  energy  in  the 
civil  power,  yet  we  fpeak.  from  hearts  that  are  adluated  by 
the  love  of  law,  of  peace,  of  order,  and  good  government. 
Senfible  of  your  Majefty's  goodnefs,  in  the  vigorous  mea- 
fures  which  have  been  adopted  for  fupprefling  the  out- 
rages, which  a  lawlefs  banditti  were  fpreading  through 
this  place  and  its  environs,  we  offer  you  the  warmeft  tri- 
bute of  our  gratitude,  for  the  happy  deliverance  we  have 
experienced,  by  the  wifdom  of  the  meafures  planned  by 
your  Majefty's  minifters,  and  by  the  energy  and  promp- 
titude with  which  they  were  fo  fuccefsfully  executed. 

We  feel  ourfelves  deeply  thankful  to  your  Majefty, 
for  this  very  beneficial  and  decifive  inftance  of  your  royal 
attention;  and  likewife  to  your  great  goodnefs,  in  the 
meafures  which  have  lince  been  adopted,  for  difcovering 
and  bringing  to  exemplary  punifliment,  as  well  the  in- 
ftigators,  as  the  perpetrators  of  the  late  atrocious  violences  ; 
and  we  firmly  and  dutifully  rely  upon  your  Majefty  for 
the  continuance  of  it,  as  well  as  for  the  exercife  of  that 
candour  and  magnanimity,  which  will  refift  the  calumnies 
pf  our  enemies,  and  continue  to  us  that  protection,  favour, 
?ind  confidence,  to  which  we  know  ourfelves  juftly  en- 
titled. 

That  your  Majefty  may  long  reign  in  peace  and  glory; 
that  yovir  royal  hgnQurs  may  for  3ge$  continue  tQ  defcend 

h  2  to 


148  APPENDIX, 

to  your  latefl:  pofterity;  and  that  the  happmefs  of  Britain 
may  profper  and  improve  itfelf  under  their  aufpicious  in- 
fluence, is  the  honeft  wifh  and  fervent  prayer  of,  Sire, 
Your  Majefty's  moft  loyal  and  dutiful  fubjeds. 


N'  XI. 

From  the  Committee  ofDiJenters. 

WHEREAS  it  now  appears,  that  among  other 
infidlous  and  unwarrantable  pradlices  made  ufe  of  during 
the  late  riots,  to  delude  the  populace,  and  inftigate  them 
to  adts  of  violence  and  deftrudtion,  letters  were  forged, 
charging  the  Diflenters  with  a  treafonable  defign  to  over- 
throw the  prefent  happy  conftitution  of  this  kingdom,  and 
pretending  that  the  whole  body  of  them  were  combined 
together,  and  had  appointed  to  affemble  on  the  i6th  of 
Auguft,  "  to  burn  the  churches,  blow  up  the  parliament, 
"cut  off  the  head  of  the  King,  and  abolifh  all  taxes:" 
And  whereas  it  is  now  well  known,  that  fuch  forged 
letters  were  pretended  to  be  found  among  the  papers  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Prieftley,  and  William  Ruflell,  Efq.  and 
the  words  above  quoted  formed  part  of  one  of  the  forged 
letters  which  were  brought  and  read  by  two  perfons  on 
horfe-back  at  S  ho  well-green,  the  houfe  of  Wm.  Ruflell, 
Efq.  whilfl:  the  fame  was  in  flames,  in  order  to  inftigate 
the  rioters  to  further  ads  of  violence :  Notice  is  hereby 
given,  that  the  Proteftant  Diflenters  of  Birmingham,  in 
addition  to  the  reward  of  One  Hundred  Pounds,  gracioufly 
offered  by  his  Majefty  for  difcovering  the  inftigators  of 
the  late  horrid  violences,  will  give  a  further  reward  of 
One  Hundred  Pounds  for  the  difcovery  of  the  perfon  or 
perfons  who  wrote  the  faid  forged  letters,  or  any  one  of 
them,  fo  that  he,  or  they,  may  be  convided  thereof,  and 
brought  to  punifliment. 

THOMAS  LEE,  Junior, 
Secretary  to  the  Committee  of  Proteftant  DiflTenters 
Bimifi^bam,  Au§,  zz,  1791,  in  Birmingham. 


£     H9    1 

N'  XII. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  addrejfed  to  the  Bifhops,  and  Members 
of  the  Houfe  of  Commons^  mentioned  in  page  20,  of 
this  work. 

Sir, 

AS  I  am  informed  that  a  printed  paper,  con- 
taining ExtraSfs  from  the  Preface  to  one  of  my  late  pub- 
lications, viz.  Letters  to  the  Rev.  Edward  Burn,  has  been, 
fent  by  fome  enemies  of  the  Diffenters,  probably  by  fome 
of  the  clergy  of  this  town,  to  every  Member  of  Parliament, 
and  alfo  to  all  the  Bifhops,  and  that  it  made  a  very  un- 
favourable impreffion  viith  refpeit  to  the  queftion  before 
the  Houfe,  on  Tuefday  the  fecond  inflant,  it  will  not, 
I  hope,  be  deemed  impertinent,  to  fliew  you  how  much 
you  have  been  impofed  upon  by  it.  For  had  the  Ef-traSIs 
been  given  together  with  what  is  conneSied  with  them, 
they  would  have  appeared  in  a  very  different  light  indeed. 
The  following  paragraph,  from  p.  15,  I  give  as  a  fpecimen 
of  the  whole,  printing  what  has  been  felefted  in  the 
Roman  chara£ter,  and  what  immediately  follows  it,  but 
which  has  been  omitted,  in  Italic. 

"  Whether  I  be  more  pleafed  or  difpleafed,  with  their 
"  prefent  violence,  let  them"  (tiie  clergy)  "  now  judge. 
"  The  greater  their  violence,  the  greater  is  our  confidence 
"  of  final  fuccefs.  Because  it  will  excite  more  public  dif- 
"  cnjfton,  which  is  all  that  is  necejfary  for  our  purpofe" 

In  the  fame  Preface  there  is  the  following  Note-,  p.  12, 
tvhich  is  in  perfe61:  agreement  with  the  tenor  of  all  my 
writings  on  the  fubjeft. 

"  It  has  always  been  my  opinion,  that  Diflenters 
"  (hould  not  accept  of  any  civil  offices  for  which  the 
"  majority  of  their  countrymen  have  pronounced  them 
*f  difqualified,  but  patiently  acquiefce  in  their  exclufioa 

*'  from 


f5o  APPENDIX. 

*'  from  them,  till  it  fhall  pleafe  God,  in  the  courfe  of 
*'  his  providence,  and  by  means  of  our  peaceable  repre- 
"  fentations  and  remonftrances,  to  open  the  eyes,  and  en- 
*'  large  the  minds,  of  our  countrymen,  and  thereby  give 
"  them  more  juft  ideas  of  the  natural  rights  of  men,  and 
*'  the  true  interefts  of  their  country." 

To  a  perfon  of  any  fenfe  of  honour^  whatever  be  his 
political  or  religious  principles^  no  remarks  of  mine  can  be 
neceflary  to  ihew  the  unfairnefs  of  this  proceeding.  Who- 
ever it  be  that  could  give  thofe  extradts  as  a  juft  repre- 
fentation  of  my  principles,  muft  have  meant  to  deceive^  and 
therefore  would  not  fcruple  to  have  recourfe  to  any  other 
artifice  to  gain  their  point.  The  paper  was  fent  off  in  a 
private  manner,  and  too  late  to  be  difcovered  and  counter- 
acted j  but  when  the  fame,  or  any  fimilar  queftion,  fhall 
again  come  before  the  Houfe,  I  hope  you  will  remember 
whofe  conduit  has  always  been  open  and  manly,  and 
whofe  was  infidious  and  deceitful. 
I  am, 

Sir, 
Birmingham,  Your  very  humble  Servant, 

MARCH  4,  1790,  J.PRIESTLEY, 


N"  XIII. 

■Copy  of  a  Letter  from  M.  Condor cet.  Secretary  to  the 
Academy  of  Sciences  at  Paris ^  to  J^r.  Priejiley, 

Sir,  and  mofi  illujirious  AJfociate, 

THE  Academy  of  Sciences  have  charged  me 
to  exprefs  the  grief  with  which  they  are  penetrated  at  the 
recital  of  the  perfecution  of  which  you  have  been  lately 
the  victim. 

They  all  feel  how  much  lofs  the  Sciences  have  ex- 
perienced by  the  deftru£tion  of  thofe  labours  which  you 
had  prepared  for  their  aggrandifement,    It  is  not  you,  Sir, 

whQ 


[    151    3 

who  have  reafon  to  complain ;  your  virtue  and  your  genius 
ftill  remain  undiminifhed,  and  it  Is  not  in  the  power  of 
human  ingratitude  to  forget  what  you  have  done  for  the 
happinefs  of  mankind: — they  only  ought  to  be  unhappy, 
whofe  guilty  conduft  has  led  their  reafon  aftray,  and  whofe 
remorfe  has  already  punilhed  their  crimes. 

You  are  not  the  firft  friend  of  liberty,  agalnft  whom 
tyrants  have  armed  the  very  people  whom  they  have 
deprived  of  their  rights.  Thefe  are  the  only  means  which 
they  can  make  ufe  of  againft  him,  whofe  difintereftednefs 
of  mind,  whofe  elevation  of  foul,  and  whofe  purity  of  con- 
du6l,  equally  fhelter  him  from  their  fedudions  and  their 
vengeance. 

They  calumniate  fuch  a  perfon  when  they  can  neither 
intimidate  nor  corrupt  him ;  they  arm  prejudices  againft 
him,  when  they  dare  not  arm  the  laws ;  and  that  which 
they  have  done  in  regard  to  you,  is  the  nobleft  homage 
that  tyranny  dares  to  render  to  probity,  to  talents,  and  to 
courage. 

At  this  prefent  moment  a  league  is  formed  throughout 
Europe  againft  the  general  liberty  of  mankind ;  but  for 
fome  time  paft  another  has  exifted,  occupied  with  pro- 
pagating and  with  defending  this  liberty,  without  any  other 
arms  than  thofe  furniftied  by  reafon  j  and  thefe  will  finally 
triumph. 

It  is  in  the  neceflary  order  of  things,  that  error  fliould 
be  momentary,  and  truth  eternal  Men  of  genius,-  fup- 
ported  by  their  virtuous  difciples,  when  placed  in  the 
balance  againft  the  vulgar  mob  of  corrupt  intriguers — the 
inftruments  or  the  accomplices  of  tyrants — muft  at  length 
prevail  againft  them. 

The  glorious  day  of  Univerfal  Liberty  will  fhine  upon 
our  defcendants,  but  we  ftiall  at  leaft  enjoy  the  aurorai 
and  you.  Sir,  have  contributed  not  a  little  to  accelerate 
that  happy  event  by  your  labours,  by  the  example  of  youi* 
virtues,  by  the  indignation  which  all  Europe  feds  againft 

L4  yowr 


rS2  APPENDIX. 

your  perfecutors,  and  by  the  intereft  and  the  admiration 
which  a  misfortune  has  excited,  that,  although  it  may 
wound,  cannot  fubdue  your  foul. 

I  am,  with  an  inviolable  and  refpeilful  attachment, 
Sir,  and  my  very  iiluftrious  affociate. 

Your  humble  and  mofi:  obedient  fervant, 
Paris,  July  30,  1791.  CONDORCET, 


N'  XIV. 

^  Dr.  Prieji ley's  Anjwer, 

SIR, 

I  AM  more  thnn  confoled  for  my  lofles.  In  find- 
ing that  the  Members  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences  have 
done  me  the  honour  to  interefl:  themfelves  in  my  affairs, 
and  efpecially  in  obferving  that  the  friends  of  philofophy 
are,  what  they  ever  ought  to  be,  the  friends  of  general 
liberty.  With  us  there  is  an  example  of  the  enemies  of 
the  one  being  alfo  the  enemies  of  the  other.  Having  al- 
ways been  an  avowed  advocate  of  public  liberty,  civil 
and  religious,  which  led  me  to  write  in  defence  of  your 
late  glorious  Revolution,  the  great  body  of  the  Clergy  in 
this  country,  and  many  of  thofe  who  call  themfelves  the 
fr  ends  of  the  King,  have  long  been  my  enemies ;  and  in 
accomplifhing  my  ruin,  they  have  not  fpared  the  in- 
ftruments  of  that  fcience^  my  application  to  which  gave 
fome  degree  of  weight  to  my  labours  in  another  field. 

But  do  not,  Sir,  fuppofe  that  ihefe  friends  of  the  Church 
and  of  the  King  are  the  Engliih  nation.  They  are  no 
more  than  a  fa6lion,  whom  a  failure  in  the  way  of  argu- 
ment has  rendered  defperate.  The  fober  part  of  the 
nation  think  more  juftly,  and  equally  difapprove  their 
maxims,  and  the  methods  they  take  to  enforce  them. 
The  Endifti  nation  in  general  refpeft  the  French;  and, 
though  too  many  of  them  are  at  prefent  under  a  temporary 
delufion,  will  vie  with  you  in  every  thing  truly  liberal,  in 

whatever 


APPENDIX.  153 

whatever  can  contribute  to  the  honour  and  happlnefs  of 
the  country  at  home,  and  to  its  hving  in  peace  and  good- 
will with  all  its  neighbours,  and  efpeciaily  with  yourfelves, 
whofe  exertions  in  favour  of  univerfal  liberty,  and  uni- 
verfal  peace,  will  for  ever  endear  you  to  us. 

Alilire  my  brethren  of  the  Academy,  that,  honoured 
by  their  choice  of  me  for  an  aflbciate,  and  by  their  generous 
fympathy  on  the  prefent  occaflon,  I  fhall  not  fail,  while 
my  life  and  my  faculties  are  continued  to  me,  to  refume 
my  philofophical  purfuits,  and  endeavour  to  fhew  our 
common  enemies,  that  a  genuine  love  of  fcience,  and  of 
liberty,  is  inexiJngiiifhable,  except  with  life,  and  that  un- 
reafonable  and  wicked  oppofition  tends  to  animate,  rather 
than  deprefs,  the  mind  th  it  is  penetrated  with  it. 

In  perfefl  confidence  that  whatever  is  true  and  right 
will  finally  prevail,  and  that  every  mode  of  oppofition  will 
only  contribute  to  their  more  complete  eftablilhment,  I 
|ut)fcribe  myfelf  with  refpedl. 

Sir, 
Their,  and  your,  very  humble  fervant, 

J.  PRIESTLEY. 


N'  XV. 

An  Addrefs  from  the  Members  of  the  New  Meeting 
to  Dr.  Priejlley. 

Rev.  and  dear  Sir. 

WE  the  affli6led  and  forrowing  members  of  the 
New  Meeting  Society,  in  the  midft  of  the  anguifli  and 
anxiety  which  is  infeparable  from  our  prefent  calamities, 
have  greatly  regretted  that  we  could  not  before  this  day 
afiTemble  together,  to  confer  upon  the  deplorable  fituation 
of  our  congregational  afiairs,  and  the  meafures  neceflary 
to  be  purfued  in  confequence  of  our  perfecutions.  Being 
now  met  together  for  this  purpofe,  we  immediately  em- 
brace the  opportunity  of  addreffing  ourfelves  to  our  well 

beloved 


154  APPENDIX, 

beloved  paftor,  and  beg  to  allure  you  how  tenderly  and 
afFedlonately  we  fympathize  with  you  in  the  prefent 
feafon  of  fevere  trial  and  affliction,  and  that,  in  the  fpirit  of 
chriftian  love  and  afFedtion,  we  moft  tenderly  condole  with 
you  under  your  perfonal  unmerited  and  painful  futferings. 

Little  did  we  conceive  that  the  exemplary  diligence 
with  which  we  have  feen  you  for  the  fpace  of  eleven  years 
inculcate  upon  us,  and  our  children,  every  thing  that  was 
good  and  virtuous,  could  be  followed  by  fuch  a  dreadful 
cataftrophe  as  we  now  feel  and  contemplate.  Whatever  mif- 
conceptions  our  neighbours  may  have  unhappily  adopted 
refpe6ting  your  various  publications,  we  dare  appeal  to 
them,  and  we  teftify  to  the  world,  that  your  paftoral  la- 
bours have  uniformly  tended  to  every  thing  that  becomes 
the  chriftian,  or  can  adorn  the  man,  to  a  fmcere  and  fer- 
vent piety  towards  God,  and  to  peace  and  univerfal  good- 
will to  all  mankind,  without  any  diftindion  of  fe6l  or 
party. 

You  have  uniformly  taught  us  to  refpecl  the  govern- 
ment under  which  we  live ;  and  in  the  devotional  fervice 
of  every  Lord's  day  have  never  failed  to  offer  up  our 
imited  prayers  for  the  Divine  blefllng  upon  the  King,  his 
Royal  Family,  and  all  that  are  in  authority  under  him ; 
fo  that  from  whatever  caufe  it  may  be  that  you  have  been, 
marked  out  for  perfecution,  and  for  the  grievous  calamities 
to  which  you  are  ftill  expofed,  we  are  fenfible  it  cannot 
originate  in  any  part  of  your  paftoral  labours,  which  all 
thofe  ftrangers  who  have  occafionally  joined  us  (with- 
out fome  of  whom  fcarce  a  Lord's  day  has  paffed)  muft 
witnefs  as  well  as  ourfclves,  have  been  condufbed  in  the 
true  fpirit  of  the  Gofpel,  in  a  fpirit  of  love  and  peace,  and 
though  diftinguifhed  by  an  ardent  defire  to  promote  the 
caufe  of  truth,  yet  ftill  more  uniformly  directed  to  incul- 
cate the  great  and  primary  duties  of  fmcere  piety  towards 
God,  and  univerfal  benevolence  towards  all  mankind. 

Accept,  dear  Sir,  our  unfeigned  teftimony  to  your  ex- 
emplary diligence,  your  eminent  abilities)  your  unremitted 

zealj 


APPENDIX.  155 

•Xeal,  your  diftinguifhed  humility,  your  unqueftioned  fm- 
Cerity,  and  your  uniform  love  of  peace,  chriftian  forbear- 
ance and  moderation ;  and  permit  us  to  afTure  you  how 
affedionately  and  tenderly  we  fympathize  with  you  under 
your  prefent  fufferings,  and  how  fmcerely  we  wifli  their 
removal.  And  although  you  are  not  immediately  return- 
ing to  us,  yet  we  look  forward  with  pleafure  to  thofe 
happier  times  when  you  may  refume  your  paftoral  labours 
here  with  fafety  and  fatisfa6lion. 

In  the  mean  time  we  earneftly  recommend  you  to  the 
Divine  prote<Sl:ion  and  favour,  imploring  him  to  watch 
over,  to  guide,  and  blefs  you,  and  in  due  time,  to  reftore 
you  to  us,  who  are,  in  the  bonds  of  chriftian  love  and 
affedlion. 

Rev.  and  ever  dear  Sir, 
Your  fmcere  and  affeitionate  friends, 

(Signed  in  the  Name  and  at  the  unanimous  requeft  of  the 
Congregation^) 

Birmingham,  Auguji  2,  ij^l'  W.  RUSSELL* 


N<^  XVL 


THE    ANSWER. 
My  Chriftian  Brethren, 

YOUR  affedionate  Letter  has  given  me  not  only 
confolation,  but  joy.  I  rejoice  to  fee  the  effedls  of  thofe 
principles  in  which  it  has  been  my  bufinefs,  and  that  of 
my  excellent  Colleague  to  inftrudl  you ;  and  the  fituation 
in  which  we  now  are,  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  try  their 
force,  and  to  fhew  the  world  that  religion  is  not  a  bufinefs 
of  mere  fpeculation,  but  that  it  is  capable  of  fupporting 
the  mind,  and  direding  the  condudi:,  in  the  moft  trying 
circumftances. 

I  rejoice  that  after  being  an  example  to  other  congrega- 
tions of  purity  of  chriftian  do^rine,  and  excellence  of  difcip- 

line. 


156  APPENDIX. 

line,  you  are  now  an  example  of  patience  and  fortitude  in 
fufFering ;  firmly  maintaining  the  principles  for  which  you 
fuffer,  and  yet  preferving  your  good-will  towards  the  au- 
thors of  your  fufferings ;  not  forgetting  that  there  is  the 
hand  of  God,  as  well  as  that  of  man,  in  every  thing  that 
befalls  us ;  and  praying  that  God  would  forgive  your  ene- 
mies and  turn  their  hearts. 

Be  affured  that  in  the  height  of  my  fufferings  I  would 
iiot  (even  without  any  refpedt  to  futurity)  have  ex- 
changed my  feelings  with  thofe  of  our  perfecutors,  in  the 
moment  of  their  greatefi:  exultation  over  us ;  for  I  never 
loft  the  feelings  of  pity  and  benevolence  towards  them, 
while  I  was  the  obie6l  of  their  hatred  and  execration,  I 
have  even  found,  as  I  doubt  not  yourfelves  have  alfo  done, 
that  thefe  chriftian  fentiments  are  more  eafily  exercifed  in 
great  trials  than  in  little  ones,  as  they  more  effeilually 
call  forth  the  principles  from  which  they  proceed. 

I  rejoice  that  you  are  about  to  re-eftablifh  the  affairs 
of  our  fociety,  and  I  only  wait  your  fummons  to  afTift  you 
in  that  neceffary  work.  Your  call  will  be  to  me  an  inti- 
mation of  my  dutyi  and  then  rnmmitting  my  life  to  him 
who  gave  it,  and  who  will  not  fuffer  it  to  terminate  un- 
feafonably,  I  will  inftantly  attend  you,  and  refume  the 
functions  of  the  office  with  which  you  have  honoured 
me.  I  know  no  fatisfailion  equal  to  that  which  has  ever 
accompanied  the  difcharge  of  fuch  duties  as  thofe  I  owe 
to  you. 

Let  what  we  have  mutually  fuffered  teach  us  the  un- 
certainty of  every  thing  in  this  world,  and  the  value  of 
thofe  principles  which  enable  us  to  look  beyond  it,  and 
not  only  to  bear,  but  to  rejoice  in,  tribulation ;  to  efteem 
it  an  honour  to  be  "  counted  worthy"  to  bear  reproach, 
to  incur  lofs,  and  even  to  lay  down  our  lives,  for  the  pure 
faith  of  the  Gofpel.  May  your  tribulation  work  pati- 
ence, and  patience  experience,  and  experience  hope,  even 
that  hope  which  maketh  not  afhamed. 

Finally, 


APPENDIX.  157 

Finally,  may  God  preferve  and  keep  you.  May  your 
fufferings  be  for  the  furtherance  of  the  Gofpel  here,  and 
add  to  your  crown  of  glory  hereafter. 

I  am,  my  chriftian  friends, 
In  the  firm  faith  and  hope  of  the  Gofpel, 
Lcndo»,  Augujl  4,  Your  affeaionate  Paftor, 

1 79 1.  J.  PRIESTLEY. 


N'  XVII. 

An  Addrefs  from  the  Toung  People  belonging  to  the  Con- 
gregation of  the  New  Meeting  to  Br.  Priejlley, 

Honoured  Sir, 

THE  common  principles  of  humanity  would, 
after  what  has  recently  occurred,  incite  us  to  communicate 
our  feelings  to  you.  But  we  feel  urged  to  it  by  far 
greater  motives.  We  have  feen  the  great  apoftle  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty  driven  from  among  us.  We  have 
feen  the  precious  labours  of  a  great  part  of  his  life  de- 
ftroyed  by  a  lawlefs  mob.  We  have  feen  his  apparatus 
and  library  fliare  the  fame  fate.  We  have  feen  this- 
valuable  member  of  focjety  in  the  greateft  danger  of  falling 
a  vidtim  to  popular  fury ;  and  not  yet  having  perfecuted 
him  fufficiently,  we  are  frequently  hearing  the  vilefl:  in- 
vectives againft  him,  who  is  fo  highly  deferving  of  our 
gratitude  for  his  perfonal  and  unwearied  efforts  to  en- 
lighten our  minds  on  the  great  fubjedl  of  religion,  and 
whofe  philofophical  labours  have  been  fo  juftly  extolled 
throughout  every  part  of  tha  civilized  world.  To  attempt 
a  defcription  of  what  we  feel  on  reflecting  on  thefe 
circumftances  would  be  as  difficult  as  it  would  be  painfuL 

To 


158  APPENDIX. 

To  aflure  you  that  we  feel  extremely  for  you,  would  be 
fuppofing  you  unacquainted  with  us.  But,  Sir,  there  is 
one  circumftance  which  much  heightens  our  forrow,  we 
cannot  think  of  your  abilities  without  refpeft,  we  cannot 
feel  the  effects  of  your  labours  without  indulging  an 
ardent  wifli  that  we  may  ftill  continue  to  experience  the 
happy  effefis  of  your  inftru6lions.  But  when  we  recolle6t 
the  indignities  you  have  felt,  the  trials  you  have  had  to 
fupport,  and  the  irreparable  lofs  you  have  fuftained ;  our 
fears  are  alarmed  left  fuch  complicated  diftrefs  fhould 
lead  you  to  feek  an  afylum,  which,  Sir,  to  our  inexpreffible 
forrow,  Birmingham  hath  not  afforded  you.  On  the  other 
hand,  knowing  the  chriftian  difpofitions  you  poffefs,  and 
the  knowledge  you  have  of  the  human  mind,  we  are  con- 
vinced that  many  palliatives  will  fuggeft  themfelves,  which, 
to  a  mind  like  yours  will  have  confiderable  influence. 

Young  as  we  are,  we  cannot  but  hope,  and  expedl,  that 
the  flame  which  ignorance  and  bigotry  have  kindled,  will 
t)e  foon  extinguiflied  by  an  increafe  of  knowledge,  and  that 
genuine  chriftianity  will  fo  far  take  poffeflion  of  the  hearts 
of  our  fellow  townfmen,  that  they  will  look  upon  the  per- 
fecution  you  have  fufFered  at  their  hands,  as  a  fin  againfl: 
the  purefl:  of  the  gofpel  precepts.  Many,  very  many,  we 
trufl:  agree  with  ourfelves  in  wilhing  your  return.  Indulge 
us  then,  kind  Sir,  in  this  fond  hope.  Should  it,  however, 
Jdc  delayed,  may  we  fliew  our  miftaken  neighbours,  that, 
although  Prieftley  is  gone,  he  fowed  good  feed  before  his 
departure,  that  it  fell  into  good  ground,  and  that  it  now 
fiourifhes  in  the  blade  and  promifes  a  plenteous  harveft. 
May  we  prove  it  to  them,  that  argument  armed  with 
iire  and  faggot  may  produce  a  temporary  (hock,  but  that 
it  finally  ftrengthens  our  caufe,  that  it  forces  us  to  feel  the 
great  juftnefs  of  it,  and  produces  aftions  natural  to  fuch 
a  convidlion ;  we  truft  we  fliall  always  follow  your  great 
example  in  candour  and  moderation,  not  lofing  fight  of 
that  chriftian  fortitude  you  have  fo  uniformly  difplayed 
iince  we  have  had  the  happinefs  of  your  refidence  among 

us. 


APPENDIX.  159 

ws.  Accept,  dear  Sir,  our  warmeft  expreflions  of  gra- 
titude for  the  great  and  lafting  fervices  you  have  rendered 
us  as  chriftians,  as  members  of  civil  fociety,  and  as  citizens, 
and  be  allured  it  is  with  the  greateft  refpedt  we  fubfcribe 
ourfelves, 

Honoured  Sir, 

Your  afFe6tionate  Pupils. 
(Signed,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-one  Names.) 


N<^  XVIII. 

THE    ANSWER. 


My  Young  Friends, 

I  COULD  not  read  your  very  affe61:ionate 
Addrefs  to  me  without  tears  of  joy.  You  were  ever  the 
moft  pleafing  part  of  my  charge,  and  this  Addrefs  is  a 
proof  that  the  affeftion  I  had  for  you,  and  the  pains  that 
I  took  in  inftrudling  you,  have  not  been  thrown  away. 
Your  example  will  encourage  other  chriftian  minifters. 
who  hear  of  it  to  follow  mine.  The  great  objeil  of  my 
Leftures,  in  all  your  Clafles,  was  to  give  you  a  juft  know- 
ledge of  the  principles  of  religion,  as  the  only  folid  founda- 
tion of  proper  fentiments  and  good  conduct,  and  I  fhall 
want  no  confolation  under  my  unmerited  fufFerings,  while 
you  continue  to  feel,  and  to  adl,  as  you  do. 

The  unfettled  ftate  of  the  Congregation,  and  the  con- 
fequent  difcontinuance  of  our  Lectures,  you  will  confider, 
as  a  trial  of  the  principles  you  have  already  acquired^ 
Give  a  proof  of  their  ftrength  by  a  fteady  attention  to 
every  means  of  improvement  that  is  yet  in  your  power. 
T  he  enemies  ot  our  chriftian  liberty  have  deftroyed  an 
excellent  Library  provided  for  your  ufe;  but  your  zeal 
and  liberality  will  fupply  you  with  refources  of  the  fame 
kindj  ajid  kt  the  raor?  opulent  among  you  aflift  thofe  who 

arc 


i6o  APPENDIX. 

are  lefs  {o.  Re-perufe  the  works  which  I  compofed  fof 
your  ufe,  and  fuch  others  as  can  be  re-purchafed  of  thofe 
which  the  enemy  has  deprived  you  of.  Shew  them,  that 
by  deftroying  books,  they  cannot  deftroy  the  efFeds  of 
reading  them;  that  the  love  of  truth,  of  virtue,  and  of 
liberty,  which  you  have  imbibed,  can  never  be  eradicated, 
and  that  lawlefs  power  can  never  fubdue  fixed  principles. 

What  I  more  particularly  wifh,  in  your  prefent  fitua- 
tion,  is,  that  thofe  who  are  the  befl:  inftruded  among  you 
would  fupply  my  place,  in  undertaking  the  inftru6lion  of 
others;  and  many  of  you,  I  am  well  fatisfied,  are  fuf- 
ficiently  qualified  for  it;  and  aflure  yourfelves  of  the 
Divine  blefling  on  the  weakeft  well-meant  endeavours. 

Young  as  you  are,  1  truft  you  are  too  well  eftabliftied 
in  chriftian  principles,  to  have  your  faith  in  a  wife  fuper- 
intending  Providence  at  all  (haken  by  the  calamitous 
events  which  have  been  permitted  to  befal  us.  Chriftianity 
did  not  lofe,  but  gain  ground  by  perfecution.  It  is  a  ftate 
excellently  adapted  to  recal  to  our  minds,  and  to  ftrengthen 
our  regards  to,  our  future  and  better  profpeds,  while  it 
loofens  a  dangerous  attachment  to  the  things  of  time  and 
fenfe. 

The  ways  of  God  are  unfearchable  by  us.  But  be 
aflured,  that  nothing  can  materially  harm  you,  if  you  be 
followers  of  that  which  is  good.  If  I  be  reftored  to  you, 
which  is  my  moft  ardent  wifh,  our  mutual  fatisfadion 
will  be  doubled  by  this  interruption ;  and  if  not,  it  will 
add  to  the  ardour  of  your  wifhes,  as  it  does  to  mine,  to 
meet  you  where  the  violence  of  the  adverfary  can  never 
feparate  us  any  more.. 

I  am,  my  young  Friends, 

In  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  Gofpel, 

Your  aifedionate  Paftor, 
London,  JuguJI  12,  j-j^i,  J.  PRIESTLEY, 


A  Letter 


[    i6i    ] 

N"  XIX. 

From  the  Members  of  the  New  Meeting. 

Dear  and  Rev.  Sir, 

THE  affectionate  terms  in  which  you 
accept  our  letter  of  condolance,  and  the  affurance  you  give 
us  that  it  afforded  you  confolation  and  joy,  have  caufed  us 
a  hvely  fatisfaCtion.  Your  defire  to  concur  with  us  in 
our  endeavours  to  re-eftabhfh  the  affairs  of  the  congre- 
gation has  awakened  our  anxiety  for  the  feafon  when  we 
may  urge  your  return  to  Birmingham ;  and  although  that 
period  has  been  thus  long  protra6ted,  yet  we  think  it  our 
duty  to  remind  you,  that  we  exercife  a  chearful  reliance 
upon  your  kind  declaration,  that  you  only  wait  our 
fummons. 

The  fincere  affedion  we  bear  you,  and  the  conviction 
we  poffefs  of  the  value  and  importance  of  your  life  to  the 
caufe  of  truth,  and  the  world  at  large,  will  not  permit  us 
to  confent  that  you  fhould  be  expofed  to  any  unneceffary 
hazard  on  your  return  hither  before  the  time  of  tranquility 
and  fafety.  Prevented  by  thefe  motives,  and  thefe  alone, 
from  requefting  in  the  mofl  affedionate  terms,  that  you 
would  refume  in  perfon  your  paftoral  charge,  we  affure 
ourfelves  that  the  interval  they  occafion,  will  not  be  per- 
mitted to  operate,  in  any  fenfe,  to  our  difadvantage. 

Our  endeavours  to  procure  a  fuitable  place  to  affemble 
in  for  public  worfhip,  until  our  own  is  rebuilt,  though 
net  altogether  fo  fuccefsful  as  we  could  wifh,  will  no 
be  difcontinued  till  the  object  is  fully  attained:  in  the 
mean  time,  we  have  the  pleafure  of  affembling  in  Carr's 
Lane  each  Lord's  day,  with  our  brethren  and  felJow-fuf- 
ferers  of  the  Old  Meeting  congregation;  and  we  learn 
with  unfpeakable  fatisfadlion,  that  the  junior  part  of  our 
fociety,  profiting  by  your  advice  and  correfpondence,  are 
already  affembled  in  regular  claffes,  and  are  conforming  to 
your  v/ilhes,  in  endeavouring  to  continue  the  important 
M  bufmefs 


i62  APPENDIX. 

bufinefs  of  religious  inftrucftion  among  themfelves,  agree- 
able to  the  plan  you  eftablifhed  ;  fo  that  your  labours  are 
ftill  flourifhing  among  us,  even  in  our  prefent  ftate  of 
difperfion  and  perfecution';  and  we  hope  and  truft  it  will 
not  now  be  long,  ere  your  own  judgment,  and  that  of  your 
friends,  will  concur  in  affording  us  a  renewal  of  thofe 
perfonal  exertions  by  which  we  have  heretofore  been  fo 
much  edified,  and  from  the  continuance  of  which,  we 
promife  ourfelves  fo  much  future  advantage. 

We  rejoice  in  the  continuance  of  your  health,  and  in 
the  frequent  accounts  we  receive  of  your  uninterrupted 
chearfulnefs,  and  offer  our  fervent  prayers  to  the  Almighty 
that  your  eminent  abilities  may  long  be  fpared,  and  your 
health  and  chearfulnefs  be  prolonged  with  them.  With 
fentiments  of  the  fmcereft  refpedl,  we  remain  with  un- 
alterable attachment, 

Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 
Your  much  obliged 
And  very  affe61:ionate  friends  and  fen^ants, 
Birmingham,  September  5,  1791. 


N'  XX. 

From  the  Toung  People  belonging  to  the  Congregation 
of  the  New  Meeting. 

Dear  and  refpefted  Sir, 

PERMIT  us  to  indulge  our  feelings 
in  again  addreffing  you.  When  affurances  of  gratitude 
and  attachment  are  not  neceflary,  there  is  a  gratification  in 
exprelTmg  the  prevailing  fentiments  of  the  heart;  and 
■when  you,  Sir,  are  the  object,  we  feel  no  common  ardour. 
We  have  too  much  confidence  in  your  goodnefs,  and  have 
had  too  many  proofs  of  your  affedlionate  regard  to  'cur 
happinefsj  to  imagine  you  will  think  us  troublefome. 

Wc 


APPENDIX.  163 

We  have  received  your  afFe<£lioriate  and  animating 
letter.  Our  tears  fpoke  our 'feelings.  We  cannot  exprefs 
them, — language  is  feebk  and  inadequate.  But  we  will 
bind  your  inftru6lions  to  our  hearts.  W^hile  we  remem- 
ber whole  pupils  we  have  been,  we  cannot  a(51  unv/orthily. 
We  can  never  fufficiently  exprefs  our  fenfe  of  the  obliga- 
tion you  have  conferred  upon  us,  but  we  dwell  upon  the 
fubjefl  with  too  much  pleafure  to  omit  any  opportunity 
of  renewing  it.  To  you.  Sir,  we  are  indebted  for  the 
defire  of  improvement.  You  have  given  us  habits  of  em- 
ploying our  leifure  hours  in  the  cultivation  of  our  under- 
ftandings,  in  purfuits  that  afford  delight  and  advantage, 
and  which  are  calculated  to  raife  us  higher  in  the  fca'e  of 
being.  The  love  of  virtue  you  have  implanted  in  us  by 
precept  and  example.  We  will  guard  and  cheriih  it;  and 
while  we  enjoy  the  fruits  of  it,  our  fouls  exulting  (hall 
blefs  you.  You  have  deprived  adverfity  of  its  fting,  and 
have  enabled  us  to  extend  our  views  with  fatisfadion  be- 
yond the  world,  by  imprefling  our  minds  with  the  ftronged: 
evidence  of  the  great  truths  of  chriilianity.  Thefe  ad- 
vantages, Sir,  we  have  received  from  you.  We  feel  their 
importance,  and  will  diffufe  them  as  far  as  our  influence 
extends.  It  (hall  be  our  grand  objeft  to  endeavour  to 
follow  your  example  in  a  iirm  adherence  to  what  we  be- 
lieve to  be  the  caufe  of  truth;  in  preferving  our  minds 
open  to  convi6lion,  and  in  the  cultivation  of  fortitude, 
patience  and  charity.  We  have  indeed  no  /light  trial  of 
the  latter,  when  we  behold  the  enlightened  and  benevo- 
lent friend  of  all  mankind,  whofe  life  has  invariably  ex- 
hibited, and  whofe  inflruiSlions  have  ever  enforced,  the 
pratSlice  of  every  mild  and  gentle  virtue,  treated  with 
a  cruelty  which  v/ould  difgrace  a  barbarous  age.  But  we 
will  remember  our  principles,  the  principles.  Sir,  we  have 
imbibed  from  you,  and  will  fay  in  the  language  of  phi- 
lofophy  and  of  chriftianity.  Deluded  men,  we  pity  you,— - 
May  your  hearts  be  turned,  and  your  errors  forgiven. 

M  2  Your 


i64  APPENDIX. 

Your  fufFerings,  Sir,  have  been  great,  but  we  have 
much  confolation  in  knowing  that  your  mind  is  ftill 
greater.  The  man  who  can  review  a  life  hke  yours,  and 
fay  it  has  been  mine,  poffeffes  the  nobleft  fources  of  joy. 
You  have  formed  to  yourfelf  a  faniluary  which  no  ftorm 
can  reach.  The  venomed  dart  muft  rebound  and  wound 
the  bread  which  aimed  it.  While  the  vices  of  mankind 
prefent  a  melancholy  picture  to  your  view,  and  call  forth 
emotions  of  forrow,  in  a  heart  benevolent  as  your's,  you 
will  remember  how  many  have  been  made  virtuous  and 
happy  by  your  means,  and  that  no  lawlefs  power  can  de- 
ftroy  the  works  you  have  given  to  the  world,  or  prevent 
their  operation  in  promoting  the  beft  interefts  of  man. 

The  violence  of  a  mob,  or  thofe  who  chofe  to  a6l  by 
fuch  inftruments,  can  only  give  additional  luftre  to  a  cha- 
rader  known,  admired,  and  revered  by  the  wife  and  li- 
beral in  every  part  of  the  civilized  world.  But  eminent 
talents  and  diftinguifhed  virtue,  feldom  fail  to  excite  in 
narrow  and  interefted  minds,  the  defpicable  paffions  of 
env}'  and  fear ;  and  the  ignorance  of  mankind  affords,  alas ! 
an  ample  field  for  them  to  work  upon.  The  page  of 
hiftory  which  the  recent  event  is  deftined  to  fill,  will  ex- 
liibit  a  ftrong  contrail  in  human  nature.  Pofterity  will 
paufe  with  aftonilhment  when  they  find  that  the  fame 
age  which  witnefTed  your  generous  exertions  in  the  caufe 
of  truth  and  of  mankind,  produced  fuch  favage  ferocity. 
Happy  would  it  be  for  many  if  the  cloud  which  will  hang 
over  their  memories  were  the  dark  veil  of  oblivion.  But 
the  bri;  htnefs  of  your  chara6ler  will  render  the  deformity 
of  theirs  confpicuous. 

Your  propofal  that  the  clafles  fliould  continue  to  meet 
has  given  us  much  fatisfa£l:ion.  We  fhall  all  rejoice 
in  any  occafion  of  giving  or  receiving  infiru6tion.  We 
hold  the  advantages  we  have  received  too  dear  to  negle<5t 
any  opportuity  of  extending  and  improving  them.  We 
have  this  day  met  to  confider  of  the  beft  means  of  carrying 
it  into  execution.    The  different  circumftances  under 

which 


APPENDIX.  165 

which  we  now  aflemble  cannot  fail  to  Imprefs  our  minds 
in  a  very  powerful  manner :  but  we  truft  they  are  im- 
preffions  which  will  have  a  favourable  influence  on  our 
future  lives.  We  have  requefted  Mr.  Blythe  to  fupply 
your  place  in  the  fenior  clafs  till  your  return,  and  when 
he  is  delirous  of  it,  we  fhall  willingly  relieve  him  from 
the  fatigue  of  reading.  Mr.  Hawk.es  we  have  requefted 
to  give  us  his  prefence  in  the  noon  clafs,  and  to  take  only 
fo  much  of  the  bufinefs  of  it  upon  him,  as  is  agreeable 
to  himfelf ;  fince  many  of  us  will  gladly  give  him  any 
affiftance  in  our  power.  They  have  in  the  moft  affec- 
tionate manner  complied  with  our  wilhes,  and  next 
Sunday  the  three  clafles,  recommence  in  their  ufual  form, 
every  thing  previous  to  their  meeting  being  fettled. 

We  have  had  a  very  full  meeting,  and  many  who  were 
obliged  to  be  abfent  have  requefted  to  put  their  names  to 
this  addrefs  as  a  teftimony  of  their  gratitude  for  your  kind 
letter.  But  we  hope.  Sir,  the  time  will  foon  arrive,  when 
you  may  again  appear  among  us  in  the  fame  venerable 
and  endearing  chara6ler  in  which  we  have  fo  often  beheld 
you.  To  be  feparated  from  you  is  an  evil  we  are  ill-dif- 
pofed  to  bear.  We  will  hope  this  trial  is  not  in  referve 
for  us.  Should  infatuation,  however,  extend  fo  far,  our 
enemies  (hall  find  that  they  can  never  feparate  you  from  our 
hearts ;  that  our  gratitude  and  attachment  has  a  bafis  too 
ftrong  for  them  ever  to  fhake,  and  that  the  mind  is  pro- 
perty which  no  iniquitious  power  can  reach. 

With  fentiments  of  the  warmeft  gratitude  and  vene- 
ration, 

We  are, 

Sir, 
Your  affeftionate  pupils, 

(Signed  with  145  names) 
Birmingham i  Auguji  22,  1791. 


A  Letter 


[    i66    j 

No  XXI. 

From  the  Members  of  the  New  Meeting  Congregation. 

Birmingham,  0£i.  22,  1791. 
Dear  and  Reverend  Sir, 

WE,  the  Subfcribers  and  Members  of  the  New 
Meeting  Society,  being  affembled  together  for  the  purpofe 
of  conferring  upon  the  rumour  of  an  unexpedled  im- 
pediment in  the  way  of  your  return  to  us,  defire  to  aflure 
you  of  the  deep  and  poignant  concern  thefe  rumours  give 
us.  The  bare  apprehcniion  of  your  leaving  us  is  deeply 
affecSting  to  us  all.  Sudden  and  violent  as  was  the  firfl: 
onfet  of  the  perfecution  and  troubles  with  which  you  and 
ourfelves  were  lately  aflailed,  we  faw  it  neceffary  that  you 
fhouid  retire  for  a  feafon,  and  we  not  only  acquiefced  in 
your  retirement,  but  rejoiced  in  your  enjoying  that  fafety 
at  a  diftance  which  a  deluded  populace  appeared  to  deny 
you  here ;  but  the  thought  of  thefe  violences  operating  to 
the  final  diffoluticn  of  our  happy  conneflion,  as  paftor  and 
people,  is  really  more  diftreffing  to  us  than  all  our  other 
fufferings  and  calamities,  multiplied  and  fevere  as  they  are, 
and  we  cannot  but  fmcerely  and  earneflly  deprecate  fuch 
an  event. 

Indeed,  Sir,  we  can  truly  affure  you,  that  there  is  no 
plea  to  be  urged,  there  is  no  afTu ranee  to  be  given,  there 
is  no  inducement  to  be  offered,  by  a  people  whofe  hearts 
are  full  of  veneration,  refpe6t,  and  gratitude,  which  we 
cannot,  which  we  do  not  now  urge  and  offer  to  you  as 
the  genuine  didate  of  the  moft  ardent,  fincere,  and  fervent 
affection.  We  cannot  defcribe  how  much  our  feelings  are 
inteiefted;  we  cannot  tell  you  how  earn efl,  how  fincere, 
and  how  fervent  our  defires  are  for  your  return,  and  how 
much  our  beff  affections  are  moved  upon  this  truly  im- 
portant and  interefling  occafion :  but  we  know  we  may 
fafely  rely  upon  your  own  feelings  to  do  us  juftice :  we 
know  you  will  feel  for  us,  and  alfo  for  thofe  who  are 

the 


APPENDIX.  167 

the  deareft  to  us,  when  we  in  treat  you  to  recollect  your 
invaluable  ufefulnefs  among  them,  and  the  happy  fruits 
which  have  been  alresdy  feen  to  refult  from  your  ex- 
emplary afliduities  and  labours  there.  But  we  will  forbear; 
for  although  we  would  be  ferious  and  earneft,  we  would 
not  be  importunate.  We  fliall,  therefore,  urge  you  no  fur- 
ther— We  know  your  candour,  we  truft  your  goodnefs, 
and  would  rely  upon  your  well  known  ferious  and  pious 
mind  for  the  acceptance  of  this  our  fmcere  and  well 
meant  application. — Perfuaded  you  will  not  deem  it  an  in- 
trufion,  we  offer  no  apology.  On  the  contrary,  knowing 
and  feehng  ourfelves  that  it  is  the  di>5late  of  a  pure  affec- 
tion and  ardent  attachment,  we  doubt  not  but  you  will 
receive  it  as  fuch,  and  that,  as  it  is  the  genuine  refult  of  our 
zeal  and  fmcerity  in  the  mofl  important  of  all  coiicerns,  it 
will  operate  with  you  accordingly. — Hoping:  that  you 
may  fpeedily  return  amongfl:  us,  refume  your  pen  with 
renewed  vigour,  and  your  labours  with  mcreaiing  fuccefs, 
we  remain,  with  the  fmcerefl  affeilion,  refped:,  and  at- 
tachment, 

Reverend  and  ever  dear  Sir, 

Your  friends  and  fellow  Chriflians. 


N'  XXII. 

To  the  Members  of  the  New  Meeting  Congregation 
at  Birmingham, 

London,  061.  8,  1791. 

My  Chriftian  Friends, 

I  NEVER  felt  myfelf  in  a  more  painful  fituation 
than  the  prefent,  in  confequence  of  fitting  down  to  anfwer 
your  two  mofl:  affectionate  Addrefles,  inviting  me  to  re- 
turn to  the  exercife  of  my  miniflry  among  you,  after 
having  been  driven  away  by  lawlefs  violence. 

Not  only  on  my  leaving  Birmingham,  but  fometime  after 
my  arrival  in  London,  I  had  no  idea  but  that  of  a  temporary 
M  4  retreat 


i68  APPENDIX, 

retreat ;  thinking  that  the  violence  of  party  fplrit,  having 
had  its  triumph,  would  be  fatisfied,  and  that  perhaps,  re- 
pentance fucceeding,  I  might  refume  my  fundions  w^ith 
more  advantage  than  before.  But  every  account  that  I 
have  received  having  reprefented  the  fpirit  of  party  as 
more  inveterate  than  I  had  imagined  it  to  be,  fo  that,  in 
all  probability,  my  return  would  only  inflame  it,  and  in 
confequence  of  this,  my  fituation,  if  fafe,  would  be  un- 
comfortable, and  perhaps  hurtful,  it  is  my  deliberate 
opinion,  that  it  will  be  better  for  fome  other  perfon,  lefs 
ol>noxious  to  popular  prejudice,  to  take  my  place,  and 
that  I  may  be  more  ufefully  fixed  in  London,  or  its 
neighbourhood. 

I  hope  I  need  not  aiTure  you,  that  it  is  with  the  greateft 
regret  that  I  at  length,  after  much  hefitation,  have  come 
to  tliis  refolution,  in  forming  which,  coniiderations  of  a 
more  private  nature,  but  to  which  no  man  is,  or  ought  to 
be,  wholly  infenfible,  have  likewife  had  their  influence. 
Never,  I  believe,  was  any  chriftian  minifter  more  happy  in 
his  fituation  than  I  have  been  with  you.  Aiy  fentiments 
concerning  you  are  not  only  thofe  of  refpecSt  and  affe6lion, 
but  of  pride.  It  has  been  my  boaft,  that  no  congregation 
that  I  have  been  acquainted  with,  was  fo  candid,  fo  well 
informed,  and  fo  ready  to  adopt  whatever  their  minifters 
recommended  to  them  for  their  edification,  and  that,  in 
confequence  of  it,  your  regulations  were  the  befl:  adapted 
to  form  intelligent  and  ferious  chriftians.  Our  example 
was  looked  up  to  by  other  and  diftant  congregations,  who 
were  excited  to  form  themfelves  upon  our  model.  I  had, 
alfo,  perfe6l  liberty,  which  few  difi*enting  minifl:ers  have, 
to  follow  all  my  favourite  purfuits,  of  every  kind,  and  to 
preach  and  write  without  the  leafl:  hazard  of  giving  of- 
fence, whatever  I  thought  proper.  I  had,  therefore,  no 
other  wifh  than  to  live  and  die  among  you. 

But  as  I  hope  the  good  that  has  been  done  will  never 
be  undone,  owing  efpecially  to  the  almoft  unprecedented 
zeal,  and  excellent  fpirit,  of  the  young  people  among  j-ou, 

whofe 


APPENDIX.  169 

whofe  Addrefles  will  for  ever  endear  them  to  me,  and 
whofe  example,  wherever  it  is  known,  muft  contribute  to 
inftru6l  and  warm  others,  I  have  the  lefs  regret  in  now 
fignifying  my  intention  of  refigning  my  paftoral  charge, 
but  not  till  I  have  feen  your  affairs  in  fome  meafure  re- 
eftablifhed,  and  fome  profpedl  of  your  being  able  to  do  as 
well  without  me:  and  as  fome  time  mull  be  fixed,  I 
mention  Chriflmas  next. 

As  foon  then,  as  you  fhall  have  provided  a  place  in 
which  I  can  ofBciate,  I  (hall  with  peculiar  pleafure  refume 
my  functions  among  you,  and  continue  them,  till  the  time 
abovementioned ;  and  if  it  pleafe  God  that  I  fhould  die  in 
your  fervice,  I  fhall  not  (feeing  no  apparent  caufe  of  ap- 
prehenfion,  fuch  as  would  juflify  my  flight  from  my  pro- 
per flation)  think  it  wijl  clofe  unfeafonably  with  refped  to 
myfelf,  or  the  world. 

I  am. 
My  friends  and  fellow  chriflians. 

Your  affedlionate  paflor, 

J.  PRIESTLEY. 


N'    XXIII. 

From  the  Congregation  of  the  New  Meeting,  Birmingham. 

Birmingham,  Oftober  24,  1791. 
Re'V,  and  dear  Sir, 

YOUR  truly  interefting  letter  of  the  8th 

inflant  has  deeply  afFe6led  us.     We  are  grieved  to  an 

excefs  at  the  feparation  it  announces,  and  the  apparent 

necefTity  of  our  acquiefcing   in   it;  and   in  "your    own 

"  deliberate  opinion,  that  it  will  be  more  for  the  general 

"  good  to  have  fome  other  perfon  fill  your  place  here, 

*'  and  that  you  may  be  more  ufefully  employed  in  London 

"  or  its  neighbourhood."     It  is  with  the  moll  painful  re- 

ludance  that  we  yield  to  this  truly  humiliating  conclufion, 

without 


lyo  APPENDIX. 

without  importuning  you  with  our  intreaties,  that  you 
would  reconfider  it,  and  refume  your  firft  purpofe  of 
fpeedily  returning  to  us.  But  feeing  it  your  dehberate 
judgment,  and  knowing  the  circumftances  which  fur- 
round  us  J  we  patiently  refign  our  wills ;  and  urging  you 
no  farther,  moft  devoutly  pray  our  heavenly  Father,  that 
your  profpe6l  of  greater  ufefulnefs  may  be  realized  ;  that 
many  fouls  may  yet  be  added  to  your  faithful  miniftry;  that 
your  glorious  career  of  ufefulnefs  and  benevolence  may 
lon»  be  continued,  and  that  your  final  removal  from  it  to 
the  realms  of  light  may  be  ferene  and  happy. 

You  will  permit  us  to  add,  that  the  apprehenfions 
which  we  have  been  recently  informed  fome  of  our  wifeft 
and  bell:  friends  entertain  for  your  fafety,  fhould  you  pro- 
fecute  your  intended  return  to  us,  neceffarily  compel  us, 
to  make  a  farther  facrifice  of  our  anxious  defires  to  fee 
vou  here.  We  are,  indeed,  truly  forry  to  abandon  the 
prorpe6l  of  your  promifed  return,  though  it  is  but 
for  a  few  weeks ;  but  we  fhould  be  wanting  in  afFeftion 
towards  yourfelf,  and  in  refpeft  to  the  general  good  of 
mankind,  were  we  not  to  attend  to  thefe  apprehenfions. 
Indeed,  Sir,  we  fpeak  very  fmcerely,  when  we  declare  that 
we  bear  you  too  fincere  and  fervent  an  affection,  that  we 
have  too  great  a  value  for  your  peace  and  fafety,  are  far  too 
anxious  for  your  prefervation  from  infult,  to  confent,  that 
you  fhould  upon  the  prefent  occafion  expofe  your  perfon 
to  tlie  hazard  of  it.  Give  us  leave,  then,  with  hearts  full 
of  refpe<5l  and  afFedlion,  to  intreat  you  to  forego  for  the 
prefent,  your  purpofe  of  vifiting  us  as  our  paftor,  and  let 
us  repeat  the  affurance  conveyed  by  our  firfl:  letter,  that 
when  the  feafon  of  perfe6f:  tranquility  and  fafety  ap- 
proaches, we  fliall  moft  cordially  hail  your  return  to  us 
for  any  period  your  other  important  connexions  and  en- 
gagements may  admit.  In  the  mean  time,  anxious  to 
maintain  an  intercourfe  with  you,  and  defirous  of  your 
aid  and  concurrence  in  our  choice  of  a  fuitable  perfon 
to  afTift  your  worthy  coadjutor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blythe,  we 

requeft 


APPENDIX.  171 

requefl:  that  if  you  know  of  any  gentleman  whom  you  think 
fuitable  for  us,  and  whom  you  have  reafon  to  expect  would 
wifh  for  fuch  an  eftablKhment,  you  will  favour  us  with 
your  nomination  of  him.  We  are,  with  the  liveliefl:  fcnti- 
ments  of  gratitude,  refpe(5l,  and  affection, 
Dear  and  Reverend  Sir, 
Your  truly  affedlionate  friends  and  fellow" chriftians. 


N°  XXIV. 

From  the  Congregation  of  Mill-Hill  Chapel  Leeds, 

Leeds,  Auguft  14.,  1791. 
Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

W  E,  the  Proteftant  DilTenters  of  Mill-Hill 
Chapel  In  Leeds,  cannot  reft  fatisfied  in  a  filent  fympathy 
with  ydu  on  the  lofles  you  have  lately  incurred  from  the 
violence  of  party  rage. 

While  all  the  fmcere  friends  of  rational  liberty  and 
good  order  are  roufed  to  an  honeft  indignation,  by  out- 
rages which  have  difgraced  our  country  in  the  eyes  of 
enlightened  Europe,  we,  having  had  the  happinefs  of 
being  under  your  paftoral  care,  feel  a  perfonal  intereft  in 
your  welfare.  And  as,  from  this  intimate  connexion 
with  you,  we  have  had  a  better  opportunity  of  becoming 
acquainted  with  your  real  charaj5ler  than  many  others 
have  enjoyed,  we  the  more  readily  embrace  this  opportuuity 
of  bearing  our  fpecial  teftimony  to  its  exemplary  excellence. 
An  interval  of  more  than  eighteen  years  has  not  effaced 
from  our  memory  the  good  principles  you  inculcated 
upon  us,  and  the  affedionate  care  which  you  uniformly 
manifefted  for  our  advancement  in  every  virtue.  It  was,  in 
a  peculiar  degree,  the  objeft  of  your  attention,  to  imprefs 
upon  the  minds  of  the  young  fuch  fentiments  as  arc  befl: 
calculated  to  produce  the  peaceable  and  ufeful  citizen,  in  all 

tlie 


172  APPENDIX, 

the  departments  in  life,  which  many  of  us,  who  were 
then  only  rifmg  to  maturity,  and  are  now  the  heads  of  fa- 
milies, gratefully  acknowledge.  We  alfo  recolle6l  with 
pleafure,  that  when  you  inftrufled  us  in  the  reafons  of  a 
Proteftant  diffent  from  the  eftabliflied  church,  you  were 
careful  to  guard  us  againft  the  rancour  of  an  intolerant 
fpirit,  and  to  form  us  to  the  genuine  temper  of  that 
divine  religion,  which  injoins  peace  on  earth,  and  good 
will  towards  men.  And  though  you  always  efteemed  it 
your  duty  to  oppofe  what  appeared  to  you  the  erroneous 
opinions,  and  fuperftitious  pradlices,  of  individuals,  or 
bodies  of  men,  you  were  fo  far  from  entertaining  a 
hoftile  difpofition  to  their  perfons  or  property,  that  you 
were  folely  ailuated  by  a  regard  to  their  bed  intereft ;  for 
which,  however,  they  might  think  you  miftaken,  they 
ought  to  have  felt  themfelves  obliged.  Rejoicing  in  the 
fupport  which  you  derive  from  the  ample  refources  of 
your  own  mind,  efpecially  ihofe  which  are  the  refult  of  a 
good  confcience,  and  earneftly  wifhing  you  every  good, 
We  remain, 

Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

Your  affedionate  friends. 


N'  XXV. 

From  the  Protejiant  Dijfenters  in  Great  [Tarmouth^ 

Yarmouth,   Ju]y29,  1791. 
Reverend  Sir, 

W  E,  minifters  and  members  of  the  three  de- 
nominations of  Proteftant  Diflenters  in  Great  Yarmouth, 
beg  leave  to  exprefs  to  you  the  intereft  we  take  in  the 
late  calamitous  events  which  have  befallen  you.  Differing 
in  various  matters  of  opinion,  we  all  agree  in  warm  admi- 
ration of  your  high  abilities,  your  zealous  refearches  after 

chriftian 


APPENDIX.  173 

chriftian  tnith,  and  your  diftinguiflied  exertions  in  the 
caufe  of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  Thefe  qualities,  which 
have  made  you  the  peculiar  mark  of  the  vengeance  of 
bigotry,  render  your  fafety  and  welfare  proportionably 
dear  to  us. 

Whilft  we  lament  your  lofles,  not  only  as  thofe  of  an 
individual,  but  of  the  public,  we  receive  a  confolation  in 
the  magnanimity  with  which  you  have  borne  them,  and 
in  the  teftimony  this  event  has  given  to  the  world  of  the 
difference  between  the  temper  and  condu6l  of  thofe  who 
fupport  a  good  caufe,  and  and  of  thofe  who  oppofe  it. 

What  will  be  the  final  refult  of  fo  atrocious  an  adl 
we  prefume  not  to  pronounce  j  but  one  good  effed:  from 
it  we  think  we  can  forefee,  that  of  drawing  clofer  the 
bands  of  union  and  amity  amongft  all  the  different  bodies 
of  DifTenters,  who  mufl  henceforth  feel  that  they  have  a 
common  concern  in  each  others  welfare  and  fecurity. 

We  requeft  you  to  convey  our  cordial  fentiments  of 
condolence  to  your  fellow  fuiferers,  and  remain,  with  fin- 
cere  efteem,  and  every  good  wifh. 

Reverend  Sir, 
Your  Friends  and  fellow  Chriflians. 


N°  XXVI. 

Ti?  the  Members  of  the  New  Meeting  Congregation, 
Birminghom. 

My  Chriftian  Friends, 

IT  adds  not  a  little  to  my  affliftion,  occa- 
fioned  by  my  violent  exclufion  from  a  congregation  to 
which  I  have  fo  much  reafon  to  be  attached,  to  be  de- 
prived of  the  fatisfa6lion  I  promifed  myfelf  from  my  pro- 
pofed  vifit  to  you,  and  doing  what  might  be  in  my  power 
towards  your  future  fettlement.  But  I  am  more  con- 
cerned on  account  of  the  reafon  you  affign  for  it;  as  it 

argues 


172  APPENDIX. 

argues  a  continuance  of  that  malignant  perfecuting  fpirit 
■which  has  been  the  caule  of  all  our  fufferings.  What 
muft  be  the  government  of  a  country,  nominally  chrif- 
tians,  in  which  fuch  outrages  againfl:  all  law  and  good 
order  cannot  be  retrained,  and  in  which  a  man  cannot  be 
encouraged  by  his  beft  friends  to  come  to  the  difcharge 
of  the  duties  of  a  peaceable  profefTion,  without  the  appre- 
henfion  of  being  infulted,  if  not  murdered. 

Do  not,  however,  think,  that  any  thing  flrange,  or 
new,  has  happened  to  us.  The  enemies  of  the  primitive 
chriftians  frequently  fet  loofe  a  licentious  populace  upon 
them,  when  they  did  not  think  proper  to  proceed  againfl: 
them  by  law ;  and  for  this  purpofe  they  railed  fuch  ca- 
lumnies againfl  them  as  made  them  be  confidered  as  the 
very  pefts  of  fociety.  I  truli  you  are  fo  well  grounded  in 
the  principles  of  your  religion,  as  not  to  Le  difcouraged  at 
this^  or  any  thing  elfe  that  has  befallen  us.  Though  the 
enemy  has  burned  our  places  of  public  worfliip,  and 
lighted  the  fires,  as  I  have  been  informed,  with  our 
bibles,  they  cannot  deflroy  the  great  truths  contained  in 
them,  or  deprive  us  of  the  benefit  of  our  Saviour's  decla- 
ration, "  Blefi'ed  are  ye  when  men  fliall  revile  you,  and 
"  perfecute  you,  and  fliall  fay  all  manner  of  evil  againfl: 
«  you  falfely  for  my  fake." 

Be  afliired  that,  from  the  intereft  I  take  in  your  wel- 
fare, I  fhall  not  fail  to  mention  to  you  any  perfon  that  I 
may  hear  of,  who  fhall  appear  to  me  proper  to  fucceed 
me.  Hoping  that  you  will  foon  be  provided  with  fuch  a 
perfon,  and  that  in  confequence  of  being  built  up  in  our 
holy  faith,  we  fhall  have  a  happy  meeting  in  a  better, 
world,  for  which  all  the  difcipline  and  trials  of  this  life 
are  excellently  fitted  to  form  us,  I  am, 

My  Friends  and  fellow  Chriftians, 

Your's  afFeclionately, 
J.    PRIESTLEY. 

ADDENDA 


[    175    ] 


ADDENDA. 


XT  may  be  amufing  to  fome  of  my 
readers,  to  fee  the  following  account  of  the  riots  at 
Birmingham,  written  on  the  fpot,  and  at  the  time, 
by  a  member  of  the  eftablifhment,  in  letters  to  a 
friend  of  his  near  Maidftone  in  Kent,  and  pub- 
lifhed  in  a  Supplement  to  the  Maidftone  Journal^  for 
Tuefday,  July  the  19th,  laft,  as  it  fhows  with 
how  little  feeling,  or  fenfe  of  impropriety,  fome 
perfons  can  relate  the  moft  atrocious  adlions,  in 
the  full  view  of  all  their  enormity,  when  they  are 
well  wiihers  to  the  cauje  in  which  they  are  per- 
formed. The  miftakes  and  exaggerations  in  this 
account  are  alfo  amufing.  I  would  likewife  obferve 
that  Mr.  Walter,  the  printer  of  the  paper  called 
The  Times,  afTures  me  that  his  account,  falfe  and 
malignant  as  it  is,  was  written  by  "  a  gentleman 
"  of  great  refpeftability,  at  Birmingham,  and  of 
"  large  commercial  concerns."  But  this  kind  of 
rejpe5i ability  does  not  always  give  liberality  of  fenti- 
ment,  juft  notions  of  right  and  wrong,  or  proper 
feelings. 

LETTER 


C    176   ] 
N'  I. 

LETTER    I. 

Thurfday  E'vening. 

"  THE  deifts  here,  after  their  utmoft  endea- 
vours, fat  down  eighty-two.  The  mob  encreafing  in 
number  and  filence,  they  broke  up  in  lefs  than  two 
hours — their  names  will  appear  in  white  letters  and  black 
paper.  Some  of  them  were  rudely  handled.  Prieftley  durft 
not  appear,  the  enclofed  paper*  inflamed  much.  I  cannot 
think  we  have  any  thing  to  fear  5  we  muft  be  blind  indeed, 
provided  the  kingdom  is  as  flourifhing  as  Birmingham, 
for  we  are  richer,  and  our  trade  better  than  ever." 


LETTER     II. 

Sunday  Noon. 
"TO  remove  your  fears  on  our  account,  I 
fend  you  the  particulars  of  our  commotions  :  on  Thurfday 
evening  the  zealous  aflembled  in  St.  Philip's  church-yard, 
and  broke  a  few  windows  at  the  Hotel ;  Dadley  appear- 
ing, declared  himfelf  attached  to  high  church  and  king. 
It  was  fettled  for  their  leader  to  examine  his  houfe,  and 
not  a  difaffeded  perfon  being  there,  they  went  to  the  New 
Meeting,  which  was  foon  in  flames;  then  to  the  Old 
Meeting,  but  they  firft  defired  the  charity  children  to  be 
fent  to  their  homes ; —  they  were  informed  the  houfes  on 
each  fide  belonged  to  loyalifts,  whofe  property  they  are 
as  cautious  of  as  pofllble ;  therefore  to  preferve  whatever 
belonged  to  them,  they  gutted  the  Old  Meeting,  laid  the 
wood  in  a  pile  in  the  Meeting-yard,  and  burnt  it  there ; 
then  took  the  bricks  down  with  care,  which  employed 

them 

•  Alluding  to  the  feditious  hand-bill. 


ADDENDA.  177 

them  all  night :  a  party  was  fent  to  fecure  Dr.  Prieftley, 
who  efcaped  very  narrowly :  his  houfe  with  every  thing 
they  could  find  fell  a  vi6lim  to  the  flames,  they  then  de- 
ftroyed  Mr.  Ryland's  houfe,  late  Bafkerville's;  then  Bor- 
defley,  then  Mr.  Hutton's.  I  went  by  defire  of  our  neigh- 
bour Cooper  into  Hutton's  houfe,  to  requefl:  they  would 
not  fire  it,  as  many  loyal  people  would  fufFer.  They  knew 
me,  (hook  me  heartily  by  the  hand,  and  promifed  me  no 
fire^  which  was  obferved.  I  am  confidently  informed 
that  a  woman  bringing  a  candle  was  knocked  down ;  they 
then  went  to  Mr.  G.  Humphrys's,  Mr.  W.  RufTell's,  and 
Mofely  Hall,  where  they  waited  for  the  tenant.  Lady  Car- 
ham  p  ton,  removing  her  effedls,  they  then  deftroyed  the 
houfe  as  they  had  done  thofe  of  the  preceding  perfons. 
They  are  ftill  in  the  country:  their  objects  are  the  Meet- 
ing-houfe  at  Withwood-heath  with  the  teacher's,  Coates's 
at  the  Five-ways,  late  Wefley's,  and  Lady  Wood ;  and 
they  declare,  that  unlefs  Prieftley  is  delivered  to  them,  no 
DifTenters  (hall  efcape.  On  Friday  five  hundred  gentle- 
men began  cudgelling  them,  and  drove  them,  but  this 
only  made  them  more  outrageous,  and  we  have  now  no 
hopes  of  quieting  them  but  from  the  military;  the  fame 
day,  they  gave  notice  by  their  bellman,  that  every  houfe 
that  had  not  high  church  and  King^  written  upon  it,  would 
be  delh-oyed. 

"  No  mone}'^,  or  any  thing  elfe  has  any  influence,  nor 
have  they  been  diverted  from  any  one  of  their  attempts ; 
they  feem  to  move  quite  fyftematically,  and  fay,  they  are 
only  doing  what  their  enemies  would  have  done  by  them. 
We  are,  I  confider,  quite  fafe  ;  the  only  inconvenience  we 
have  felt,  has  been  from  a  few  ftragglers,  who  have  taken 
the  advantage  of  the  times,  in  extorting  money>  but  the 
loyal  mob,  yeflerday,  as  foon  as  they  were  informed  of  it, 
fent  a  party,  who  beat  them  feverely,  and  they  are  at 
prefent  difperfed. 

*•  P.  S.  I  am  informed  they  are  now  at  Edgbafton, 
in  confequence  of  their  finding  a  letter  of  Dr.  W.  at 

N  Ruflell's 


178  ADDENDA. 

Ruffeli's ;  they  now  fay  they  regard  no  perfuafion,  every 
enemy  to  high  church  fhall  falh" 


Mr.  Ryland's  houfe,  which  has  been  burnt  down,  was 
fet  fire  to  on  account  of  his  fon's  having  aflifted  in  the 
efcape  of  Dr.  Prieftley,  whom  the  mob  have  purfued  in 
different  direitions.  Should  the  Doctor  not  be  able  to 
elude  their  vigilance,  it  is  much  to  be  apprehended  that 
they  will  murder  him,  as  he  is  confidered  the  mif- 
chievous  author  of  all  the  treafonable  hand-bills  that 
have  been  circulated  about  the  town,  and  which  firft  pro- 
duced the  riot. 

The  Methodifl:s  and  followers  of  the  Countefs  of 
Huntingdon  have  been  all  proteiled.  In  the  beginning 
of  the  riots  the  mob  went  to  fome  of  their  houfes,  and 
queftioned  them  concerning  the  dodlrines  which  they 
profefTed,  and  on  their  declaring  for  church  and  King, 
they  were  affured  that  they  fhould  remain  unmolefted. 
The  church  people  walk  about  as  ufual,  without  the 
fmallefl  apprehenfion  of  danger. 

The  Hotel  belonging  to  Dadley,  where  the  Revolu- 
tionifls  dined,  has  been  only  damaged  by  the  windows 
being  broken,  the  mob  refufmg  to  pull  it  down,  becaufe 
he  was  a  churchman. 

Lir.  Humphry s,  whofe  houfe  at  the  turnpike  was 
pulled  down,  offered  the  mob  4000  and  afterwards  8000 
guineas  if  they  would  defid:;  but  they  declared  that  money 
was  not  their  objeil:,  and  that  they  pulled  down  his  houfe 
becaufe  they  confidered  him  as  a  principal  perfon  con- 
cerned m  the  inflammatory  hand-bills;  perhaps  too  for  his 
ridiculing  the  national  church  by  building  a  cow-lodge  in 
the  form  of  a  chapel. 

A  letter  dated  Sunday  night  at  eleven  o'clock,  fays, 
"  UoJefs  fome  foldiers  arrive^  early  to-raorrpw  morning, 

we 


ADDENDA.  179 

we  are  in  very  great  apprehenfion  that  every  Dlflenter's 
houfe  in  Birmingham  will  be  deftroyed,  and  with  them, 
no  doubt,  many  other  houfes  which  were  never  intended. 
Near  one  hundred  houfes  have  been  fet  on  fire  and  pulled 
down,  and  about  fixty  more  are  marked  for  the  purpofe 
of  being  burnt  or  deftroyed.  At  nine  o'clock  laft  night 
it  was  computed  that  the  damage  already  done  amounted 
to  250,0001.  Thofe  which  we  have  mentioned  belong 
to  principal  people." 


N'  II. 

An  Addrejs  to  Dr.  Priejlky,  agreed  upon  at  a  Meeting 
of  the  Philofophical  Society  at  Derby y  Sept.  3,  1791. 

SIR, 

WE  condole  with  yourfelf,  and  with  the  fcien- 
tlfic  world,  on  the  lofs  of  your  valuable  library,  your 
experimental  apparatus,  and  your  more  valuable  manu- 
fcripts :  at  the  fame  time  we  beg  leave  to  congratulate  you 
on  your  perfonal  fafety,  in  having  efcaped  the  facrilegious 
hands  of  the  favages  at  Birmingham. 

Almoft  all  great  minds  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  who  have 
endeavoured  to  benefit  mankind,  have  been  perfecuted  by 
them;  Galileo,  for  his  philofophical  difcoveries,  was 
imprifoned  by  the  Inquifition;  and  Socrates  found  a 
cup  of  hemlock  his  reward  for  teaching  "  there  is  one 
"  God."  Your  enemies,  unable  to  conquer  your  arguments 
by  reafon,  have  had  rccourfe  to  violence ;  they  have  hal- 
loo'd  upon  you  the  dogs  of  unfeeling  ignorance,  and  of 
frantic  fanaticifm;  they  have  kindled  fires  like  thofe  of  the 
Inquifition,  not  to  illuminate  the  truth,  but,  like  the  dark 
lantern  of  the  aflaflln,  to  light  the  murderer  to  his  prey. 
Your  philofophical  friends,  therefore,  hope  that  you  will 
not  again  rilk  your  perfon  among  a  people,  whofe  bigotry 

renders 
N2 


i8o  ADDENDA. 

renders  them  incapable  of  inftruilion :  they  hope  you  will 
leave  the  unfruitful  fields  of  polemical  theology,  and  cul- 
tivate that  philofophy,  of  which  you  may  be  called  the 
father,  and  which,  by  inducing  the  world  to  think  and 
reafon,  will  filently  marfhal  mankind  againft  delufion,  and 
with  greater  certainty  overturn  the  empire  of  fuperftition. 
In  fpite  of  the  perfecution  you  have  fuflained,  we  truft 
that  you  will  perfevere  in  the  exertions  of  Virtue,  and  the 
improvements  of  fcience.  Your  fame,  already  confpicuous 
to  every  civilized  nation  of  the  world,  fhall  rife  like  a 
phoenix  from  the  flames  of  your  elaboratory  with  reno- 
vated vigour,  and  fhine  with  brighter  corufcation. 

R.  ROE,  Secretary. 


N"  III. 

THE  ANSWER. 

London,  Sep,  19,  1791. 
Centlemetty 

I  FEEL  myfelf  greatly  encouraged  in  my  prefent 

fufferings  from  the  effedls  of  bigotry,  by  the  fympathy 

exprefled  by  you,  and  by  other  liberal  friends  of  fcience 

here  and  abroad. 

It  will  be  a  new  thing  in  the  world  if  any  thing  truly 
valuable  lofe  credit,  or  have  a  lefs  rapid  fpread,  in  con- 
fequence  of  perfecution.  If  any  thing  will  bear  to  be 
viewed,  and  examined,  it  muft  derive  advantage  from 
whatever  draws  attention  to  it ;  and  fuch,  I  am  confident, 
is  the  caufe  in  which  I  fuffer. 

In  confequence  of  this,  far  from  being  difcouraged,  I 
feel  myfelf  more  animated  than  everj  and  I  am  at  this 
very  time  fetting  about  the  re-eftablifhment  of  my  philo- 
foyhical  apparatus,  and  refuming  all  my  former  purfuits. 

Excufe  me,  however,  if  I  ftill  join  theological  to  phi- 
lofophical  ftudies,  and  if  I  confider  the  former  as  greatly 

fuperior 


ADDENDA.  i8i 

fuperlor  in  importance  to  mankind  to  the  latter.  But  as 
thefe  different  purfuits  have  never  yet  interfered  with,  but 
have  promoted,  each  other,  be  perfuaded  that  this  wilj 
continue  to  be  the  cafe. 

I  am,  Gentlemen, 

Your  very  humble  fervant, 

J.  PRIESTLEY. 


The  perfon  high  in  office,  after  declaiming  againft 
me  in  the  manner  mentioned  p.  58,  added,  "As 
"  to  Paine,  he  is  no  Dijfentery  and  therefore  we 
"  cannot  take  him  up."  On  this  I  leave  my  reader 
to  make  his  own  remarks,  and  fome  of  a  fufficiently 
ferious  nature  cannot  fail  to  occur  to  him. 


A 

CATALOGUE  of  BOOKS, 

WRITTEN   BY 

Dr.    PRIESTLEY, 

AND    PRIMTED    FOR 

J,  Johnjon,  Bookfeller,  St,  Paul's  Church-Tard, 

LONDON. 

1 .  JnpHE  Hiftory  and  prefent  State  of  EleSirkttjy  with  original 
J.     Experiments,   iliuftrated  with  Copper-plates,  4.th  Edition, 
correiled  and  enlarged,  ^.to.   il.  is. 

N.  B  ^  Neiv  Edition  tf  this  is  in  the  Prefs  and  'will  foott  he  pub- 
lijhed  together  ivith  a  Continuation  of  it,  and  original  Experiments  by- 
Mr.  Nicholfon,  in  2  fvols.  4.to,  in  Boards,  2/.  ts. — The  Continuatioa 
will  be  fold  alone,  il.  is.  in  Boards. 

2.  A  Familiar  lntrodu8ion  to  the  Study  oiEUBricity^  5th  Edition^ 
8vo.  2S.  6d.  fewed.  " 

3.  The  Hiftory  and  Prefent  State  of  Difcoveries  relating  to  Vifton^ 
light ,  and  Colours,  1  vols,  410.  iliuftrated  with  a  great  Number  of 
Copper-plates,  il.  iis.  6d.  in  boards,  il.  i8s.  bound. 

4.  Experiments  and  Obfervations  on  different  Kinds  of  Air  and 
other  Branches  of  Natural  Philofephy,  connected  with  the  Subjeft, 
3  vols.  il.  IS.  in  boards,  being  the  former  Six  Volumes  abridged  and 
methodifed,  with  many  Additions. 

5.  A  Familiar  Introdu<Stion  to  the  Theory  and  Praflice  of  Per- 
peSii've,  with  Copper-plates,  2d  Edition,  5s.  in  boards,  6s.  bound. 

6.  A  New  Chart  of  Hi/lory,  containing  a  View  of  the  principal 
Revolutions  of  Empire  that  have  taken  Place  in  the  World  j  with 
a  Book  defcribing  it,  containing  an  Epitome  of  Univerfal  Hiftory, 
4th  Edition,  los.  6d. 

7.  A  Chart  of  Biography,  with  a  Book  containing  an  explanation 
of  it,  and  a  catalogue  of  all  the  Names  inferted  in  it,  6th  Edition, 
very  much  improved,  10s.  6d. 

N.  B.  Thefe  Charts  mounted  on  Canvas  and  Roller Si  to  be  hung  up 
in  a  Study,  &c.  are  143  each. 

8.  The  Rudiments  of  Englijh  Grammar,  adapted  to  the  ufe  o£ 
Schools,  a  new  Edition,  is.  6d.  bound. 

9.  The  fame  Grammar,  with  Notes  and  Obfervations,  for  the  Ufe 
of  ihofe  who  have  made  fome  Proficiency  in  the  language,  4th  Edit. 

10.  Le^ures  on  Hijiory  and  General  Policy  ;  to  which  is  prefixed, 
an  Eflay  on  a  Conrfe  of  Liberal  Education,  for  Civil  and  Aftivs 
Life,  4to.  il.  IS.  in  boards, 

II  Obfer'vaUnns 


Books  tvritten  hy  Dr,  Priejiley. 

1 1 .  Ohfervations  relating  to  Education  :  more  efpecially  as  it  re- 
fpefts  the  Mind  ;  to  which  is  added,  an  Effay  on  a  Courfe  of  Liberal 
Education  for  Civil  and  Aftive  Life,  2d  Edition,  3s.  6d.  in  boards. 

12.  A  Courfe  of  Lectures  on  Oratory  and  Crttidf?n,  4to.  ids.  6d. 
in  boards,  14s.  bound. 

13.  An  EiTay  on  the  firft  Principles  of  Government,  and  on  the 
Nature  of  Political,  Civil,  and  Religious  Liberty,  2d  Edition,  much 
enlarged,  4s.  in  boards,  5s.  bound,  in  this  Edition  are  introduced  the 
Remarks  on  Church  Authority,  in  anfwer  to  Dr.  Balguy,  formerly 
publijhed  feparately. 

14.  Letters  to  the  Right  Hon.  Mr.  Burke  on  his  Refleftions  on 
the  Revolution  in  France,  8vo.   3d  Edition,  2s.  6d.  fewed. 

15.  A  Letter  to  the  Right  Hon.  William  Pitt,  Firft  Lord  of  the 
Treafury,  and  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer:  on  the  Subje6l  of 
^Toleration  and  Church  Efiablijhfnents;  occafioned  by  his  5/f^f^  againft 
the  Repeal  of  the  Tdft  and  Corporation  ASls^  on  Wednelday  tlie  2 ill 
of  March,  1787,  2d  Edition,  is. 

16.  Familiar  Letters,  addrefi'ed  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Birmingham,  in  Refutation  of  feveral  Charges  advanced  againft  the 
Diflenters,  and  Unitarians,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Madan. — Alio  Letters 
to  the  Rev.  Edward  Burn,  in  Anfwer  to  his  on  the  Infallibility  of  the 
Apoftolic  Teftimony  concerning  the  Perfon  of  Chriit.  And  Con- 
fiderations  on  the  Differences  of  Opinion  among  Chriftians,  in  Anfwer 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Venn,   2d  Edition,  5s.  fewed. 

17.  An  Examination  of  Dr.  Reid's  Inquiry  into  the  Human  Mind, 
on  the  Principles  of  Common  Senfe,  Dr.  Beattie's  Eflay  on  the  Nature 
and  Immutability  of  Truth,  and  Dr.  OjhvahVs  Appeal  to  Common 
Senfe,  in  Behalf  of  Religion,  2d  Edition,  5s.  In  boards,  6s.  bound. 

18.  Hartley^ s  Theory  of  the  Human  Mind,  on  the  Principle  of 
the  Aflbciation  of  Ideas,  with  Eflays  relating  to  the  Subject  of  it, 
8vo.  6s.  in  boards,  7s.  bound. 

19.  Di/quijitions  relating  to  Matter  a.nd  Spirit.  To  which  is  added, 
the  Hiftory  of  the  Philofophical  Do6lrine  concerning  the  Origin  of  the 
Soul,  and  the  Nature  of  Matter ;  with  its  Influence  on  Chnftianity, 
efpecially  with  refpeft  to  the  Doftrine  of  the  Pre-exiftence  of  Chrift. 
Alfo  the  Doftrine  of  Philofophical  Neceffity  illullrated,  2d  Edition' 
enlarged  and  improved  :  with  Remarks  on  thofe  who  have  contro- 
verted the  Principles  of  them,  2  vols.  8s.  in  boards,   los.  bound. 

20.  A  Free  Difcujfion  of  the  DoSlrines  of  Materialijm  and  Philo- 
fophical Neceffity,  in  a  Correfpondence  between  Dr.  Price  and  Dr. 

Priejiley ;  to  which  are  added,  by  Dr.  Priejiley,  an  Introdufiion,  ex- 
plaining the  Nature  of  the  Controverfy,  and  Letters  to  ieveral  Writers 
who  have  animadverted  on  his  Difquiiitions  relating  to  Matter  and 
Spirit,  or  his  Treatife  on  Neceffity,  8vo.  6s.  fewed,   7s.  bound. 

21.  A  Defence  of  the  Doftrine  of  Neceffity,  in  two  Letters  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  John  Palmer,  2s. 

42.  A  Letter  to  Jacob  Bryant,  Efq.  in  Defence  of  Philofophical 
Neceffity,  is. 

-     23.  A  Philofophical 


Books  written  by  Dr.  Prieftley, 

23.  A.  Pkilofophcal  Enquirv  concerning  Human  Liberty,  by  W. 
CollinSji  Efq.  with  a  Preface  by  Dr.  Priellley,  2s.  6d. 

The  three  preceding  Articles  may  be  properly  howid  up  ivith  the 
fecoJt  J  'Volume  o/'Dirquifitions  en  Matter  and  Spirit. 

24.  Letters  to  a  Phibfophical  U?ibelie-ver,  containing  an  Examina* 
tion  of  the  principal  Objei>ions  to  the  Doftrines  of  Natural  Religion^ 
and  efpecially  thofe  contained  in  the  writings  of  Mr.  Hume.  Alfo  a 
State  of  the  Evidence  of  Re-vealed  Rdigiofi  w'nh.  Anlmzdvevfions  on 
the  two  lalt  Chr.pters  of  the  firft  Volume  of  Mr.  Gibbon  s  Hijhry  of 
the  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire  ;  ami  an  Anfwcr  to  the 
Letters  of  Mr.  IVilUam  Hammon,  2  vols.  8vo.  7s.  fewed,  or  bound 
in  one  volume,  8s. 

25.  A  Harmony  of  the  ETangeliJls  in  Greek.  To  which  are 
prefixed,  Critical  Dijfertations  in  Englifli,  4to.  J4s.  in  boards, 
17s.  bound. 

26.  A  Harmony  of  the  E'van^elifs  in  Engli/h,  with  Notes,  and  an 
occafional  Paraplirafe  for  the  Ufe  of  tlic  Unlearned.  To  which  are 
prefixed,  Critical  DilTertations,  and  a  Letter  to  the  Bifhop  of  Offory, 
4to.   i2s.  in  boards,   15s.  bound. 

N.  B.  Thofe  tvho  are  pojfejfed  of  the  Greek  Harmony,  may  ha'vt 
this  in  Englifii  nvitkout  the  Critical  Diflertations,   8s.  in  boards. 

The  Greek  and  Englifh  Harmony  with  the  Critical  DilTertations, 
complete,  il.  is.  in  boards,  or  il.  4s.  bound. 

27.  Infitutes  of  Natural  and  Re'vealed  Religion,  in  2  vols.  Svo. 
2d  edit.   JOS.  6d.  in  boards,  12s.  bound. 

The  third  Part  of  this  IFork,  containing  the  Doflrines  of  Revelation, 
may  be  had  alone,  2s.  6d.  feix'cd. 

28.  An  Hijlory  of  the  Corruptions  of  Chrijlianiiy,  with  a  general 
Conclufion,  in  two  Parts.  Part  I.  containing  Confidtrations  addreffed 
to  Unbelievers,  and  efpecially  to  Mr.  Gibbon.  Part  IL  containing 
Confiderations  addrefllid  to  the  Advocates  for  the  prefent  Eftablifh- 
ment,  and  efpecially  to  Bifliop  Hurd,  2  vols.  8vo.  izs.  in  boards, 
or  14s.  bound.  Or,  bound  uniformly  ivith  the  three  follon.ving 
Defences  of  it,  in  3  njols.  il.  4s. 

29.  A  Reply  to  the  Animadverfions  on  the  Hijlory  of  the  Corruptions 
oi  Chrijlianity ,  in  the  Monthly  Review  for  June,  1783  j  with  Ob- 
fervations  relating  to  the  Doftrine  of  the  Primitive  Church,  concerning 
the  Perfon  of  C/)r//?,  8vo.   is. 

30.  Remarks  on  the  Monthly  Re'vievj  of  the  Letters  to  Dr.  Horjley; 
In  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Badcock,  the  writer  of  that  Review,  is 
called  upon  to  defend  what  he  has  advanced  in  it,  6d. 

31.  Letters  to  "Dr.  Horfey,  Archdeacon  of  St.  Alban's,  in  three 
Parts,  containing  farther  Evidence  that  the  Primitive  Chriftian  Church 
was  Unitarian,  7s.  6d.  fewed. 

N.B.  Thefe  lafi  three  Articles  together  in  boards,  9s.  or  los.  hound. 

32.  An  Hijlory  of  Early  Opinions  concerning  Jefus  Chrijl,  compiled 
from  Original  Writers  j  proving  that  the  Chriltlan  Church  was  at  firft 
Unitarian,  4  vols.  Svo.  il.  4s.  in  boards,  or  il.  Ss.  bound. 

33.  A  General  Hijiory  of  the  Chriftian  Church,  to  the  Fall  of  the 
Wellern  Empire,  in  2  vols.  8vo.   145.  io  boards,  i6s.  bound. 

34.  Defences  of  Unitariatiijm  for  the  Year  1786;  containing  Letters 
to  Dr.  Home,  Dean  of  Canterbury  j  to  the  Young  Men,  who  are  in 

O  a  Courfe 


Books  written  by  Br.  Priejlley, 

a  Courfe  of  Education  for  the  Chiiftian  Miniftiy,  at  the  Univerfities  of 
Oxford  zm\  Cambridge ;  to  Dr.  Price ;  and  to  Mr.  Parkhurit  j  on 
the  Subjea  of  the  Pcrfon  of  Chrift,  id  Edit.   3s. 

35.  Defences  of  Vnitanamfm  for  the  Year  1787;  containinfr  Letters 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Geddes,  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Price,  Part  II.  and  to  the 
Candidates  for  Orders  in  the  Two  Univerfities,  Part  II.  Relating  to 
Mr.  Howe's  Appendix  to  his  fourth  Volume  of  Obfervations  on  Books, 
a  Letter  by  an  Under-Graduate  of  Oxford,  Dr.  Croft's  Bampton 
Lecture;,  and  feveral  other  Publications,  2s.  6d. 

36,  Defences  of  Unitaria?iif>n  for  the  Years  1788  and  1789  ;  con- 
taining Letters  to  the  Bifliop  of  St.  David's,  to  the  Rev,  Mr.  Barnard, 
the  Rev.  Dr,  KnowJes,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hawkins,   3s.  6d. 

N.  B.  Tbefe  laji  three  AxUcX^s  together,  ^s.  in  boards. 

37-  A  Fie^u  of  the  Principles  ^nd  Condu^  o^  ihe  Protefani  Dif- 
fentersy  with  Refpeft  to  th?  Civil  and  Ecdefiaftical  Conltitution  of 
England,  2d  Edit.  is.  6d. 

38.V  A  Free  Addrcfs  to  Frotefant  Diffcnters,  on  the  Subject  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  3d  Edit,  with  Additions,  2s. 

39  An  Addrefs  to  Protejiant  Dijfenters,  on  the  fubjefl  of  giving  the 
Lord's  Supper  to  Children,  is. 

40.  A  Free  Addrefs  to  Protefant  Dijfenters,  on  the  Subject  of 
Church  Difcipline ;  with  a  prtliminary  Difcourfe  concerning  the  Spirit 
of  Chriilianity,  and  the  Corruptions  of  it  by  falfe  Notions  of  Religion, 
2S.  6d.  fcvved. 

^  I.  Letters  to  the  Authors  of  Remarks  on  federal  late  Publications 
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4-2.  A  L,etter  to  a  Layman,  o\\  the  Subject  of  Mr.  Lindfey's 
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51.  A  Fiev:  of  Revealed  Religion.  A  SeiTnon  on  the  AdmifTion 
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Rev.  Mr.  Bel  (ham,  fecond  Edition,  is. 

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and  a  lift  of  his  writings,  is, 

54.  A  Z)//r5«r/^on  tlie  Evidenceof  theReAirre£tion  of  Jefus,  is.  6 J. 

55.  A  Catechifm  for  Children  and  Young  Perfons,  5th  Edit.  4d. 

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THE  THEOLOGICAL  REPOSITORY, 

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With  a  Head  of  the  Author  j  engra<vedhy  Mr.  Blake, 
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OBSERVATIONS  ON  MAN; 

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By    DAVID    HARTLEY,    A.M. 

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AN 


APPEAL 


T  O 


THE  PUBLIC, 

ON  THE  SUBJECT  OF 

T^e   Riots    in    Birmingham^ 

PART   II. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDE1>, 

A  LETTER  FROM  W.  RUSSELL,  ESQ^TO  THE  AUTHOR. 

J'' 
By  JOSEPH  PRIESTLEY,  LL.D.  RR,S,  iffc. 


SeX)  qU^   CAtTSA  GRAVIS,    QV M  TRISTIS  ORICO  RUIN-?:, 
FoRSITAN  IGNORAS.       Ego  NUNC   VERISSIMA  FAUCIS 
Exp  EDI  AM. 

Petrarch.^  Africa. 


LONDON: 

PRINTED  FOR  J.  JOHNSON,  ST.  PAUl's  CHURCH  YARD. 

1792. 


THE    PREFACE. 


1  HE  fads  advanced  in  the  former 
part  of  my  Appeal  to  the  Public  relating  to 
the  Riots  in  Birminghafii  having  appeared  to 
myfelf,  and  my  friends,  incontrovertibly 
true,  I  did  not,  at  the  time  that  I  wrote 
it,  expecl  that  I  fhould  have  any  occafion  to 
trouble  the  world  with  another  publication 
on  a  fubjed  which  to  mylelf  muil:  be  fuffi- 
ciently  difagreeable.  But  as  not  only  have 
thofe  fa£ls  been  denied,  but  much  additional 
cenfure  been  refleded  upon  me,  and  the 
DifTenters,  by  the  clergy  of  Birmingham, 
who  have  employed  the  pen  of  Mr.  Burn,  I 
find  myfelf  under  the  neceffity  of  engaoino- 
in  a  controverfy,  the  termination  of  which  I 
do  not  fee.  P"or  1  think  myfelf  bound  in 
honour,  and  in  duty  to  my  fellow -fufferers, 
not  to  withhold  whatever  fhall  appear  to  me 
to  be  proper  for  our  common  vindication. 

a  2  Let 


ly  THE    PREFACE. 

Let  our  enemies,  then,  difpute  our  hCts, 
and  advance  their  farther  calumnies.  I  fhall 
not  fail  to  reply  to  them,  till  the  Public  (hall 
\)e  in  polTeffion  of  all  that  is  neceffary  to 
form  their  judgment  on  a  fubje(fl  that  cer- 
tainly interefts  the  whole  community.  For, 
if  any  one  fet  of  men  may  be  infulted  and 
opprefled  with  impunity  on  account  of  their 
religious  perfuaiion,  if  neither  the  common 
courts  of  law,  nor  the  cool  opinion  of  their 
countrymen,  will  do  them  juflice,  another 
fet  may,  in  their  turn,  be  expofed  to  the 
fame,  and  an  all-grafping  and  domineering 
hierarchy  may  crulli  us  all.  It  behoves  us, 
then,  ferioufiy  to  confider  our  fituation,  and 
let  our  enemies  confider  theirs.  And  the 
cafe  of  perfecution  for  religious  principle  is 
no  new  thing  in  the  vvorld ;  we  have  but  too 
many  precedents  before  us  to  determine  our 
judgment,  and  dire'fl  our  condu£l. 

It  will  be  obferved,  and,  I  doubt  not,  to 
pur  prejudice,  that  but  few  names  appear  in 
this  narrative  of  fa6ls.  But,  confidering  the 
great  prevalence  of  a  violent  party  fpirit 
among  the  more  wealthy  and  powerful  in 
the  town  and  neighbourhood  of  Birmingham, 

and 


THE    PREFACE.  ^ 

and  how  much  it  will  appear  that  fome  per- 
fons  have  already  fuftered  in  confeqiience  of 
giving  evidence  in  favour  of  DiiTentisrs,  and 
being  otherwife  friendly  to  them,  it  would 
be  unjuftifiable  in  me  to  expofe  then!  to  far- 
ther injury  without   very  particular   feafdUi 
Every  name,  however,  that  is  alluded  to  in 
this  work  is  ready  to  be  produced   if  necef- 
fnry.     If,  in  any  very  particular  cafe,  1  iliould 
decline    giving    my    authority,    I    can    only 
pledge  my  own  veracity  for  having  a  lufficient 
authority,  which   my  re^lder  will   believe  or 
not,  according  to  his  idea  of  my  moral  cha^ 
ra6ler.   Exce.pt  a  very  few,  all  the  fa6ls  I  have 
mentioned,  are  contained  in  affidavits  volun- 
tarily tendered ;  and  many  more,  I  doubt  not, 
will  appear  when  it  fliall  feem  to  be  fafe  to 
the  parties.    However,  thofe  affidavits  which 
tend    mod    to   criminate    particular   perfons 
have  already  been  recited  by  Mr.  Whitbread, 
and  others,  when  an  inquiry  was  moved  for 
in  the  Houfe  of  Commons  into  the  caufes  of 
the  riot.     Knowing,   therefore,  what  is  laid 
to  their  charge,  it   behoves  them  to  take  the 
proper  method  of  removing  the  imputations 
under  which  they  lie.     A  good  account  of 
the  debate  on  this   fubjecl  may  now  b^  feen 

^3  ii^ 


VI  THE    PREFACE. 

in  the  Parliamentary  Regifter^  publifhed  by 
Mr.  Debrett.  From  perufing  this  our  country- 
men will  form  their  own  judgment,  whether 
there  was  fufficient  caufe  for  public  inquiry, 
aiid  whether  the  members  of  the  Houfe  of 
Commons  a£led  as  the  reprefentatives  of  the 
Diffenters  as  well  as  of  the  other  inhabitants 
of  the  country,  and  whether  they  were  dif- 
pofed  to  inquire  into,  and  redrefs,  wrongs 
done  to  them. 

The  plan,  and  proper  origin,  of  the  riot  has 
not  yet  been  difcovered  ;  and  many  perfons 
begin  to  fufpe£t,  as  Dr.  Parr,  in  his  truly  libe- 
ral publication,  has  hinted,  that  it  had  a  higher 
origin  than  Warwicklhire.  There  were  pre- 
didions  in  London  of  what  would  be  done  at 
Birmingham.  But,  if  any  perfon  in  power 
fhould  wifli  to  opprefs  us,  we  afcribe  it  to  the 
incellant  accufations  of  our  enemies,  efpecially 
among  the  clergy;  and  time  will  (hew  that 
thofe  accufations  are  mere  calumnies,  affer- 
tions  deflitute  of  all  foundation  in  fa6t. 

No  blunder  is  abfolutely  impoflible  in 
fome  politicians ;  but  I  can  hardly  think  that, 
at  this   day,    any   ftatefman   could  hope   to 

avail 


THE    PREFACE.  vli 

avail  himfelf  of  the  prejudices  of  the  majo- 
rity of  a  nation  to  iatimidate  and  crufh  the 
minority,  when  his  ultimate  views  were  really 
hoftile  to  the  liberties  of  all,  fuch  policy  is  fo 
eafily  feen  through ;  and  it  would  be  nothing 
lefs  than  infanity  to  endeavour  to  intimidate 
by  a  77iob,  the  excefl'es  of  which  it  may  be 
impoffible  to  reftrain,  and  which,  once  en- 
couraged and  excited,  may  foon  take  a  differ- 
ent, and  even  oppofite,  direction.  Jn  no 
country  in  Europe  is  a  mob  fo  much  to  be 
dreaded  as  in  this,  for  in  no  country  in  Eu- 
rope are  the  populace  fo  ignorant,  fo  unprin- 
cipled, fo  prophane,  fo  improvident,  fo  licen- 
tious, and  fo  much  difpofed  to  every  fpecies  of 
violence  fhort  of  murder.  If  our  government 
be  fo  excellent  as  it  is  boafted  to  be,  how- 
came  this  great  and  formidable  evil  to  exifl  ? 

In  general  this  extreme  ignorance  and  pro- 
fligacy are  to  be  found  in  manufatfturing 
towns,  where  the  poor  are  taught  nothing, 
befides  their  particular  art  or  trade,  and 
where  they  have  no  leifure,  or  means,  of  ac- 
quiring general  knowledge ;  where  they 
work  part  of  their  time,  and  fpend  the  reft  in 
the  alehoufe,  wholly  improvident   with    re- 

a  4  fped 


vhi  THE    PREFACE, 

fpe£l  to  futurity,  in  this  life  or  another.  This 
neceflarily  forms  the  moil:  degraded  ilate  of 
human  nature.  But  for  this  great  evil  the 
government,  in  church  or  flate,  ihould  pro- 
vide fome  remedy. 

Much  pains  has  particularly  been  taken  to 
reprefent  the  Unitarian  Diflenters,  among 
whom  I  clafs  myfelf,  as  difaffc6led  to  go- 
vernment, in  order  to  make  our  fufferings  the 
fubjedl  of  lefs  regret,  as  if  the  chaftifement 
we  have  met  with,  though  not  legally  in- 
flicted, was  nothing  more  than  we  deferved  ; 
when  in  reality  our  tenets  have  no  relation 
whatever  to  any  thing  of  a  political  nature, 
nor  have  we  interfered  in  politics  more  than 
other  perfons. 

Among  other  calumniators,  Mr.  Burke 
particularly  diftinguifhed  himfelf  by  his  in- 
vedives  asrainft  us  in  the  Houfe  of  Com- 
mons  ;  but  he  only  difcovered  his  utter  igno- 
rance of  our  principles  and  condudt.  As  fome 
evidence  that  the  Unitarian  Diflenters  are 
the  enemies  of  the  conftitution,  he  alleged 
the  toafls  that  were  given  at  the  firft  annual 
meeeting  of  the  Unitariau  fociety,  none  of 

which, ' 


THE    PREFACE,,  m 

which,    however,    were    at   all   difloyal,  Qf 
breathed  a  fpirit  unbecaming  Englifhrpen, 

Mr.  Burke  was  ignorant  that  the  Uniiarim 
Society  by  no  means  reprefents  the  Unitarian^ 
of  England,  being  nothing  more  than  the  ^{Tq* 
ciation  of  a  very  few  of  them  for  the  purppf§ 
gf  diftributing  books,  and  certainly  are  nPl 
one  in  a  thoufand  of  the  Unitarians  in  Eng= 
land.  That  fociety  has  no  political  obje6^ 
whatever,  and  the  toafts  were  quite  an  acci? 
dental  thing,  owing  to  the  company  of  forne 
ftrangers,  who  chiefly  fuggeftcd  them  at  th§ 
time,  none  of  them  being  provided  befgrg* 
hand ;  and  it  was  not  the  intention  of  th§ 
fociety  to  continue  the  cuftorn, 

Unitarianifm  bears  no  relation  to  any  fyfr 
tern  of  politics,  and  in  fa6l  there  are  Unita- 
rians among  the  fi-iends,  as  well  as  the  eqcr 
mies,  of  what  is  QdX\Q,di gov^rjunent.  Therp  grg 
great  numbers  of  them  in.  the  church  of  En^- 
land,  as  well  as  out  of  it ;  and  there  are  pi^ny 
profeffed  Unitarians  who  objetfl  to  the  forqiino: 
of  any  fociety ^  fo  far  are  they  fron)  wifhincr 
to  make  themfelves  confpicuous,  or  froni 
beiiig  of  a  fadious  and  turbulent  difpofition. 

Unfavourable 


X  THE    PREFACE. 

Unfavourable  as  the  prefent  times  are 
to  Unitarians  and  Dilfenters,  they  may 
change  in  our  favour,  and  even  in  a  fhort 
fpace.  Events  are  powerful  and  fpeedy  in- 
jftru£tors,  and  produce  important  changes  in 
the  fentiments  of  whole  nations,  as  we  have 
lately  feen  both  in  America  and  in  France. 
This  is  an  a2:e  of  revolutions,  and  Ihould 
teach  the  High  Church  party  in  this  country 
not  infoience,  but  moderation. 

At  all  events  men  fhould  do  juftice,  what- 
ever their  own  future  lituation  may  be  ;  and 
it  is  only  juftice  that  the  Diffenters  of  Bir- 
mingham alk  of  their  countrymen.  But  they 
have  not  yet  found  it,  except  with  refpe^l 
to  the  demolition  of  the  new  meeting  houfe ; 
though  all  damages  done  by  rioters  fhould 
be  moft  amply  repaired  by  the  fociety,  which  is 
conflituted  for  the  very  purpofe  of  prevent- 
ing, or  redrefling,  the  wrongs  of  individuals. 
It  is  notorious  that  the  courts  of  law  have  by 
no  means  given  us  complete  indemnification. 
We  trufl:,  however,  there  is  flill  fo  much  juf- 
tice in  the  nation,  that  our  reprefentatives 
will,  on  cooler  refle£lion,  do  for  us  what  was 
done  for  the  fufFerers  by  the  riots  in  1780, 

and 


THE    PREFACE.  xi 

and  punlfh  thofe  who  may  be  proved  to  have 
been  chargeable  with  a  neglect  of  duty. 

It  will  be  proper  in  this  Preface  to  give 
fome  account  of  Mr.  Ruffe IV s  Letter  to  me, 
which  is  fubjoined  to  this  part  of  my  Appeal, 
and  of  thofe  articles  in  the  Appendix  which  are 
not  mentioned  in  the  courfe  of  it. 

Mr.  Ruffell  thought  himfelf  at  one  time 
particularly  called  upon  to  vindicate  himfelf 
and  his  brethren  from  the  accufation  of  the 
High  Church  party  in  the  reply  of  Mr.  Burn, 
efpecially  as  he  knew  that  I  wi(hed  to  decline 
writing  any  more  on  the  fubjed:.  But  find- 
ing that  this  was  impofible,  I  defired  him  to 
throw  fome  part  of  what  he  had  written, 
(containing  fuch  particulars  as  he  was  beft 
able  to  fpeak  to)  into  the  form  of  a  Letter  to 
me,  to  be  fubjoined  to  my  work.  And  I 
think  myfelf  happy  in  this,  and  in  every 
opportunity  of  appearing  in  company  with 
a  man  to  whom  I  owe  fo  much,  in  whofe 
fociety  I  have  had  fo  much  true  enjoyment, 
from  the  mutual  communication  of  fimilar 
fentiments  ;  and  whofe  feparation  from  me  I 
coniider  as  one  of  the  mofh  unpleafant  con- 

fequences 


xli  THE    PREFAcfi. 

fequences  of  the  riot.  But  we  are  all  at  the 
difpofal  of  one  who  knows  where  to  place  us 
better  than  we  do  ourfelves. 

Having,  in  my  former  Appendix,  given 
feveral  Addrejfes  to  me,  thofe  who  were 
pleafed  with  them  will  not  be  difpleafed  to 
fee  added  to  them  that  from  the  Di/fenters 
and  Delegates  of  the  Dlfjenters  in  England  to 
the  fiifferers  ifi  the  Birmingham  riots,  with  the 
Anlwer.  In  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  there 
were  feveral  fneers  at  me  on  account  of  there 
being  ho  Addrefs  to  me  from  any  Diflenters 
ill  London;  and  it  was  iniinuated  that  no 
fuch  thing  having  taken  place,  the  Diflenters 
in  general  were  far  from  approving  my  con- 
dud,  or  condoling  with  me  on  the  occafion. 
This  Addrefs,  being  a  full  anfwer  to  thofe 
infinuations,  was  fent  by  a  friend  of  mine  to 
the  printer  of  the  Miigazine,  but  it  was  nei- 
ther inferted,  nor  any  notice  taken  of  its  be- 
ing fent.  I  hope  Mr.  Nichols  will  not  in 
future  pretend  to  impartiality  in  his  condu6l 
of  that  work.  I  could  not  have  a  fl:ron2;er 
teftimony  to  the  propriety  of  my  general  con- 
dud  as  a  Diflenter  than  this  Addrefs,  and  the 
anfwer;  and  it  is  a  particular  fatisfadion  to 

me. 


THE    PREFACE.  m 

me,  that  all  the  denominations  of  Diffenters 
concurred  in  it. 

I  ought  alfo  to  obferve  (and  the  remem-? 
brance  of  it  will  give  me  pleafure  as  long  as 
1  live)  that  the  firft  congregation  to  which 
I  preached  after  the  riot  was  one  of  Calr 
yiniftic  Baptifts  at  Amerfham,  and  at  th^ 
unanimous  requeft  of  the  minifter  and  people. 
The  Sunday  following  I  had  invitations  tq 
preach  to  two  other  Calviniflic  congregations, 
One  good  effect  of  the  riot  has  been  to  pro- 
mote this  liberal  fpirit,  fo  becoming  all  deno- 
minations of  Chriftians.  Though  we  ditter 
in  many  things,  and  lay  fuitable  (Irefs  on  thofe 
points  of  difference,  we  are  fenfible  that  the 
articles  about  which  we  are  all  agreed  are  of 
infinitely  more  moment  ;  and  on  thefe  I  can 
with  pleafure  enlarge,  without  hurting  the 
feelings  of  any  Chrilfiai^  whatever. 

No.  XIV.  will  flievy^  how  far  Mr.  Burn's 
affertion  concerning  the  caufe  of  Mr.  Curtis's 
declining  to  attend  a  funeral  in  company  with 
Mr.  Scholefield  only  left  he  fhould  afterwards 
do  the  fame  with  me,  is  from  the  truth.  Now 
that  I  have  left  them,  the  fame  low  bigotry- 
continues. 


xiv  THE   PREFACE. 

continues,  and  is  openly  avowed  by  them. 
And  No.  XIII.  will  (how  the  extreme  malig- 
nity of  Ibme  of  the  High  Church  party  fince 
the  riot. 

The  account  from  Stourbridge,  No.  XIX. 
ifhows  that  the  fame  illiberal  fpirit  of  the  High 
Church  party  extended  to  the  neighbourhood  of 
Birmingham,  and  exifted  there  long  before  my 
coming  among  them,  and  alfo  its  continuance 
and  increafe  {ince  that  time.  The  fpirited  and 
excellent  publications  of  Mr.  Field  (hew  that 
the  fame  defpicable  fpirit  prevails  at  Warwick; 
and  I  doubt  not  every  other  town  in  that 
neif^hbourhood  could  furniOi  a  fimilar  hif- 
tory;  fo  effed'ually  hav^e  the  clergy  infufed 
their  own  fpirit  into  the  members  of  their 
church;  and  nothing  furely  can  be  more  dif- 
o-raceful  in  this  enlightened  age.  The  bigotry 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  was  never 
o-reater,  or  more  intolerant,  than  that  of  the 
clero-y  of  the  church  of  England  in  that  part 
of  this  proteftant  country,  and  all  bigotry  is 
founded  in  ignorance.  Their  narrow  educa- 
tion, and  other  circumftances,  eafily  account 
for  the  whole. 

The  letter  relating  to  the  deftrudion  of 

4  ^y 


THE   PREFACE.  xv 

my  library,  was  written  by  a  perfoii  who  I 
had  heard  was  on  the  fpot,  and  I  imagined 
had  been  prefent  at  the  beginning  of  it,  hav- 
ing, though  a  member  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, gone  thither  to  fave  what  he  could  of 
my  property,  and  efpecially  my  books  and 
manufcripts.  This  letter  furnifhes  the  moft 
unexceptionable  evidence  of  the  favage  and 
brutal  fury  with  which  thofe  worfe  than 
Goths  and  Vandals  were  infligated  to  deftroy 
cvQry  thing  belonging  to  me. 

Mr.  Carpenter's  letter  will  exhibit  a  fpeci- 
men  of  the  fufFerings  of  thofe  whole  names 
do  not  appear  in  any  lift  of  fufterers.  I  wifli 
that  more  fuch  accounts  may  be  coUeded  be- 
fore the  particulars  be  forgotten.  As  yet  thisf 
country  has  but  an  imperfe<5t  idea  of  the  mag- 
nitude and  extent  of  this  mifchief.  In  due 
time  I  hope  that  all  the  world  will  have  an 
opportunity  of  feeing  it ;  and  let  our  enemies 
indulge  themfelves  in  the  contemplation  of  it 
if  they  feel  themfelves  fo  difpofed.  I  hope  it 
will  be  the  laft  gratification  that  they  will 
have  of  the  kind.  Indeed,  their  wrath  is  as 
great,  as  if  tbey  knew  that  their  time  wasjhorty 

Rev* 


Xvi  THE   PREFACE. 

JlfeV-.  xii.  12.     This  violence  will  only  prtci* 
f)itate  their  ruin* 

Their  beft  policy  would  be  rtioderatioii,  and 
a  hearty  concurrence  in  the  repeal  of  the  im- 
politic Corporation  and  Tefl  A£ls,  which  I 
hope  no  Diffenter  will  ever  trouble  the  coun- 
try with  petitioning  for  any  more.  I  never 
pfopofed  any  application  to  the  legiflature  for 
that  purpofcj  and  I  truft  all  the  Diffentefs 
will  now  feel  as  Paul  did  when  he  had  been 
linjuftly  imprifoned.  Let  the  country  do 
"dWay  its  own  difgraCC,  and  provide  for  its 
t^wh  greater  fecurity,  by  doing  us  juflice* 

Pdfterity  will  judge  between  us  and  the  High 
Church  clergy  of  this  kingdom,  not  only  who 
haVe  been  the  beft  friends  of  the  liberties  and 
trii'e  interefts  of  the  country,  but  even  of  the 
J-eighiilg  family.  It  was  the  fulfome  flattery^ 
and  abject  principles  of  the  clergy  that  chiefly 
contributed  to  precipitate  the  Stuarts  to  their 
ruin^  and  they  are  ading  the  fame  part  at 
prefent.  They  taught  Charles  II.  to  behave 
with  the  mofl:  indecent  ingratitude  and  trea* 
thery  to  the  Prefbyterians,  who  were  the 

true 


THE  PREFACE.  xvli 

true  authors  of  his  reftoration,  and  they  are 
dilating  the  fame  ingratitude  to  the  prefent 
reigning  family,  to  which  the  Diflenters  have 
ever  been  moll:  zealoufly  attached,  w^hile  the 
clergy  were  almoft  univerfally  difafFeded, 

Thefe  are  fa^ls  that  lie  on  the  very  furface 
of  the  Englifli  Hiftory,  and  yet  the  clergy 
have  the  aflhrance  to  char2;e  us  with  difaf- 
fedion.  If  there  be  any  difpofition  towards 
it,  it  is  what  their  violence  and  injuftice  have 
driven  us  to.  There  are  others,  we  truft, 
who  can  better  diftinguifh  the  Jig7ts  of  t/js 
times  than  they,  and  who  will  not  again 
facrifice  the  interefts  of  the  nation,  and  the 
conftitution  itfelf,  to  their  bigotry,  avarice, 
and  ambition. 

Many  of  the  fads  introduced  into  this  part 
of  my  Appeal  will  be  found  to  be  the  fame 
with  thofe  that  are  mentioned,  and  Ipiritedly 
remarked  upon,  by  Mr.  Edwards,  in  his  LeU 
lers  to  the  Britijh  nation^  as  well  as  alleged  by 
Mr.  Whitbread  and  others  in  the  Houfe  of 
Commons.  In  reality  we  had  no  other  thaa 
the  fame  authorities.  I  (hould  not,  however, 
have  thought  it  neceflary  to  have  made  fo 

b  many 


xviii  THE   PREFACE. 

many  of  the  fame  obfervations  with  Mr.  Ed* 
wards,  if  this  part  of  my  Appeal  had  not  been 
printed  before  I  law  his  laft  Number.  I  ear- 
neflly  recommend  this  laft  Number  of  his 
Letters,  as  containing  feveral  more  particulars 
than  had  come  to  my  knowledge. 

I  cannot  omit  this  opportunity  of  congra- 
tulating my  late  congregation  on  the  acqui- 
fition  of  two  fuch  valuable  minifters  as  Mr. 
Edwards  and  Mr.  Jones,  whofe  firft  and 
truly  excellent  difcourfe  to  them  is  now  be- 
fore the  public.  They  have,  in  a  great  mea- 
fure,  verified  my  prediction,  in  my  Letter  t& 
the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham^  and  the  in- 
creafing  numbers  and  fpirit  of  the  Unitarian 
Diffenters  in  that  town  muft  have  already  con- 
vinced the  bigoted  High  Church  party  there, 
that  they  have  been  far  from  gaining  any  thing 
by  the  riot,  or  by  my  expulfion  from  the 
place.  Such  has  ever  been,  and  fuch,  from 
the  nature  of  things,  muft  always  be,  the  ef- 
fe£l  of  intolerance  and  perfecution.  But  bigotry 
will  neither  read  nor  refie<ft,  fo  that  to  this 
daemon,  equally  furious  and  blind,  the  in- 
ilrudive  page  of  hiflory  is  unfolded  in  vain. 

Mr. 


THE    PREFACE.  xix 

Mr.  Burn  charges  the  Unitarians,  p.  102, 
with  "  inviting  the  aid  of  perfecution.'*     If 
we   have    o-iven    the   invitation,    the   Hisrh 
Church  party  at  Birmingham  have  been  as 
ready  to  give  as  we  to  afk,  and  have  thereby 
given    us  the   affiftance   that  we  found   we 
wanted.     And  though  Mr.  Burn  fays,  as  a 
proof  that  I  have  not  been  perfecuted^  that 
"  I  have  not  fufFered  as  a  Chriftian  j"  my 
cafe  is  fo  far  common  with  thofe  who  are 
ufually  termed  Protejiant  Martyrs  in  the  reiga 
of  queen  Mary,  in  this  country,  and  of  Phi- 
lip II.    and  Louis  XIV.    abroad :    for    none 
of  them  fuffered  as  Chriftians.    We  have  this, 
however,  in  common  with  the  proper  Chrif- 
tian  martyrs,  that  we  equally  fufFer  yor  ro^- 
fcience  fake.     "  Much  lefs,'*  adds  Mr.  Burn, 
*'  has    it    been    made    to    appear    that    the 
"  clergy  were  acceflbry  to  his  misfortune.'* 
When  I  wrote  the  former  part  of  this  Ap- 
peal, I  did  not  confider  them  as  acceflbry  to 
it,  but  now,  in  a  certain  fenfe,  I  do  fo ;  and 
they    are    called    upon    either    to    vindicate 
themfelves,  or  to  bear  the  imputation  ;  and 
they  will,  no  doubt,  do  that  which  they  will 
find  the  eafieft  to  them.  If  it  be  true,  as  they 
now  pretend,  that  they  lament  the  riot  in 
b  2  Birmingham 


xx  THE   PREFACE. 

Birmingham  (which  the  total  failure  of  their 
obje£l  may  now  perhaps  lead  them  to  do) 
numbers  of  their  brethren  in  many  parts  -of 
England  do  not.  I  could  enlarge  greatly  in 
my  evidence  af  this,  if  it  were  prudent  fo  to  do. 
No  other  event  in  modern  times  has  ihown  fo 
decifively  what  fpirit  the  High  Church  clergy 
of  this  country  are  really  of.  It  is  the  fpirit  of 
church  eftablifhments  univerfally,  and  truly 
jinti'  Chr'ijiian, 

I  deferred  the  printing,  and  after  that  the 
publication,  of  this  work,  which  was  com- 
pofed  in  Auguft,  with  a  view  to  give  my 
readers  an  account  of  the  complete  termina- 
tion of  every  thing  relating  to  the  riot  in  Bir- 
mingham ;  hoping  that  the  very  inadequate 
compenfation  that  was  awarded  us  would  have 
been  paid  at  leaft  before  this  time.  But  find- 
ing this  to  be  ftill  delayed,  and  that  there  is  no 
near  profpe^t  of  the  bufinefs  being  difpatched, 
though  the  term  fixed  by  the  law  for  this  pur- 
pofe  is  expired,  (it  being  now  nearly  a  year  and 
a  half  fince  the  difafter,  and  eight  months, 
fince  the  caufe  was  heard)  and  many  of  my 
friends  and  my  enemies  too  call  for  the  work,  I 
have  confented  to  withhold  it  no  longer. 

c  Ifliall 


THE  PREFACE,  xxi 

I  fliall   clofe  this   preface  with    repeating 
what  I  have  obferved  more  than  once  in  the 
courfe  of  the  work,  viz.  that  depending,  as  I 
neceflarily  muft,  on  the  information  of  others, 
with  refpe£l  to  the  fa^s  introduced,  or  al- 
luded to,  in  it,  it  is  very  poffible  that  I  may 
have  been  mifled.     But  I  wi(h  to  give   our 
adverfaries    an    opportunity   of    exculpating 
themfelves,  if  they  can,  from   the   charges 
brought  againft  them ;  and  certainly  they  are 
under  obligation  to  me  on  this  account ;  it 
being  always  an  advantage  to  know  what  our 
adverfaries  fay,  and  believe,  concerning  us, 
as  we  may  then  either  defend  ourfelves,  or 
neglect  the  accufation,  as  we  think  proper. 

CtAPTON,  Jan,  T,  1793. 


b  3  T«E 


THE 


CONTENTS. 


SECTION    I. 

PAGE 


JnTRODUCTION,   and  of  the  exaggerated 
Charges  in  Mr.  Burn's  Reply     -     -     -     - 


SECTION    II. 

Of  Mr.  Burn's  Accufation  of  me^  and  his  chal- 
lenging me  to  defend  myfelf    -----       1 2 

SECTION    III. 

Of  Events  previous  to  the  Riotj  and  of  the  more 
dijlant  Caufes  of  it      -      -     -      -      -     -       ao 

SECTION    IV. 
Of  the  p-edifpofng  Caufes  of  the  Riot     -     -     -       36 

SECTION    V. 

Circumjiances  previous   to  the  Riot,   and  more 
immediately  connected  with  the  Caufe  of  it     -       43 

SECTION 


[     xxiv     ] 

SECTION  vr. 

Circumjiances  attending  the  Commencement  of  the 
Riot _.--*      53 

SECTION    VII. 

Of  the  ConduB  of  the  Magiflrates^  and  others , 
after  the  Commencement  of  the  Riot    -     -     -       57 

SECTION    VIII. 
Circumflances  fubfequent  to  the  Riot     -     -    -       71 

SECTION    IX. 

Ohjervaticns  on  the  Proceedings  in  the  Courts  of 
Judicature  on  Occafion  of  the  Riot     -     -     -       82 

SECTION    X. 

Of  the  Approbation  of  the  Riot,  and  the  Extent  of 
High  Church  Principles,  which  were  the  Caufe 
of  it)  in  other  Parts  of  the  Kingdom    -    -    -       ^^ 


Mr,  RuJfeWs  Letter  to  Br,  Prieflley    -    -    -     115 


APPENDIX, 


[      XXV      ] 


APPENDIX. 

No.  I.  ^he  Rev.  Mr.  Scholefield's  Advertijement 
relating  to  the  Sunday  Schools  at  Birmingham      145 

No.  II.  Extract  from  the  original  Advertijement 
relating  to  the  Public  Library  at  Birmingham     148 

No.  III.  An  Addrejs  to  the  Subjcribers  to  the  Bir- 
mingham Library  on  the  Subje^  of  Mr.  Cookers 
Motion^  to  rejiri5f  the  Committee  in  the  Choice 
of  Books  J  with  a  View  to  exclude  Controverfial 
Divinity       -      -      -------14^ 

No.  IV.  Extract  from  the  free  Addrefs  to  Pro- 
teflant  DiJfenterSj  as  Juch     -     -     -     -     -     160 

No.  V.  Copy  of  the  Forged  Letter  found  at  my 
Houfe,  16th  July,  1791     -----     164 

No.  VI.  Mr.  Abel  Humphrys's  Advertijement  r<?- 
lating  to  the  Calumny  of  Mr.  William  Gem    -     165 

No.  VII.  Copy  of  a  Letter  intended  to  be  ad- 
drejjed  to  the  Clergy  of  the  'Town  of  Birmingham  166 

No.  VIIL 


£    xxvi     ] 

No.  VIII.  Extra5l  from  a  Letter  inferted  in  the 

Shrewjbiiry  Chronicle,  Sept.  \\,\'^^\     -     -     170 

No.  IX.  An  E-pitafh  written  for  me  byfome  Per- 

Jon  in  the  Weft  of  England     -     -     -     -     -     172 

No.  X.  J  Letter  addreffed  to  the  People  of  Eng- 
land in  the  Public  Jdvertifer  for  Saturday, 
y%.  18,  1792    --------     173 

No.  XI.  Copy  of  an  Advcrtijement  in  the  Bir- 
mino-ham  Ne-'cvfpaper,  relating  to  the  Addrefs 
to  nie  from  the  Philofophical  Society  at  Derby     1 80 

No.  XII.  An  Anjzver  lo  the  preceding  by  the  So- 
ciety     -      -      -      -------    ibid. 

No.  XIII.  A  Defcription  of  an  Allegorical  Medal 
publifhed  at  Birmingham  fince  the  Riot      -     1 83 

No.  XIV.  An  Account  of  the  Clergy  of  Birming- 
ham refiifing  to  walk  in  funeral  Proceffions  with 
patenting  Members  fince  the  Riot     -     -     -     184 

No.  XV.  Extras  of  a  Letter  written  to  me  by 
a  Perfon  zvho  was  in  my  Library  during  the 
Demolition  of  the  Houfe,  in  Anfwer  to  one  in 
which  I  had  requejted  his  Evidence  concerning 

;>----.------        185 

No.  XVL 


[     xxvli     ] 

No.  XVI.  An  Addrejs  of  the  Dijfenters  and  Be- 
legates  of  the  Dijfenters  in  England,  to  the  Suf- 
ferers in  the  Riot  at  Birmingham     -      -     -     185 

"No.  XVII.  The  Jnfwer  l>y  the  Sufferers    -    -     189 

No.  XVIII.  An  Account  of  the  Alarm  and  Lofs 
of  Mr.  Carpenter  of  tVoodroWj  in  a  Letter 
from  his  Brother     -      -      ----_j^2 

No.  XIX.  An  Account  of  the  High  Church  Spirit 
which  has  long  prevailed  at  Stourbridge        -     197 


Additions        -         -         «         «         ^      =       206 


ERRATA. 

Pref,  p.  xil.  1.  7,  for  Bijfetiters,  read  DtUgaies, 

P.  5,  1.  8,  for  cr,  read  as. 
26,  1.  10,  for  aK</,  fli  read  cr,  as, 
32,    I.   7,  (b.)  for  members y  read  tnemler. 
^  6l>  1.  12,  (b.)  read  the  king  has  Jent  us  luord. 
63, 1.  12,  read  a  toafi, 
63,  I.  18,  dtle  ferbaps  at  the  fame  time» 
81,  I.    I,    (b  )  for  ajjett,  rea.d  in/erl. 

104,  1.  10,  (b.)  for  i<o/e,  read  Hofe. 

N.  B.  (b.)  Sigmfiesy?ff«  the  bottom  0/  tie  page. 


AN    APPEAL 

TO 

r//£    PUBLIC, 

ON  THE   SUBJECT  OF 

THE  RIOTS  IN  BIRMINGHAM. 
PART    II. 


SECTION     I. 

Introdu5fion,   and  of  the  exaggerated  Charges  in  Mr. 
Burn's  Reply, 

I  DO  not  remember  that  I  ever  entered 
upon  any  compofition  with  fo  much  reludance 
as  I  do  upon  this,  though  not  in  the  lead  from 
any  apprehenfion  of  not  being  able  to  acquit  my- 
felf  to  my  own  fatisfadtion  in  it.  Indeed,  in  this 
refpe<5t,  no  talk  ever  appeared  to  me  more  eafy  and 
inviting,  as  I  dare  fay  my  impartial  readers  (and 
fome  fuch  I  hope  to  find)  will  be  fufficiently  con- 
vinced as  I  proceed.  But  1  widi  to  look  back  as 
little  as  poflible  to  an  unpleafant  fcene,  excepting  in 
fuch  a  manner  as  to  derive  benefit  from  my  reflec- 
tions upon  it.     Being,  however;  loudly  called  upon 

B  by 


2  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

by  the  clergy  of  Birmingham,  who  have  employed 
the  pen  of  Mr.  Burn,  and  who  fandlion  his  per- 
formance, I  find  myfelf  under  a  necefTity  of  vindi- 
cating what  I  advanced  in  my  dipped  on  the  fubjedt 
of  die  riots  in  that  town. 

I   long  entertained    hopes   that'  this   might   be 
unneceffary,  on  account  of  the  candour  with  which 
iViy  Appeal  was  written;  and,  circumftanced  as  I 
was,  it  would  naturally  be  concluded,  that  I  would 
be  as  guarded  as  poffibk  with  refped  to  all  the  fafts 
that  I  had  occafion  to  introduce ;  and  as  I  had  na' 
vindiftive   feelings,    I   imagined    that,    confidering 
what  I  had  fuffered  (more  in  fome  refpe6ls  than 
moil  perfons  now  living  could  be  made  to  fuffer)  I 
wrote  in  fuch  a  manner  as  my  enemies  themfelves 
Would  think  to  be  temperate.     And,  iixfeed,  I  have' 
t\\t  fatisfaftion  to  find,  that  not  only  my  particular 
friends,  but  many  who  were  not  previoudy  dilpofed 
to  be  ray  friends,    thought  that  the  temper  with 
which  I  wrote  was  not  unbecoming  a  Chriftian. 
Notwrthftanding  this,-  the  clergy  of  Birmingham  ex- 
prefs  a  very  different  idea  of  my  performance,  and 
it  is  on  nothing  but  an  appeal  to  faSls  that  the  pro- 
priety of  what  I  advanced  before,  and  of  what  I  lliall 
now  advance  in  defence  of  it,  muft  depend. 

What  I  have  had  moft  occafion  to  complain  of, 
ever  fince  my  writings  have  drawn  any  degree  of 
attention  upon  me,  has  been  unfounded  calumny, 

flanders 


On  the  Riots  hi  Birmingham,  ^ 

ilanders  of  the  moft  malignant  nature,  of  which  no 
evidence  could  be  produced,  but  to  which  confident 
aflertion  procured  credit.  One  of  thefe,  refpedling 
my  converting  Silas  Dean  to  atheifm,  is  acknow- 
ledged in  this  Reply  to  my  Appeal.  That  ftories 
grow  by  pafilng  from  one  hand  to  another,  and  that 
■  by  this  means  mere  fuppofitions  come  to  be  confi- 
dered  as  undoubted  fads,  is  not  uncommon;  and  it 
is  not  eafy  to  afcertain  the  degree  of  guilt  in  any  of 
the  relaters.  But  to  be  charged  with  affcrting  the 
veiy  contrary  of  what  a  writer  does  afTert,  and  in 
the  very  publication  replied  to  (which  is  of  courfc 
immediately  under  the  eye  of  the  perfon  who 
profefTedly  replies  to  it)  is  much  more  extraor- 
dinaiy,  as  it  argues  fuch  a  force  of  prejudice  as 
the  evidence  of  a  man's  own  fenfes  will  not  re- 
move; and  there  are  more,  and  more  ftriking,  in- 
llances  of  this  violent  prejudice  in  Mr.  Burn's  reply 
to  my  Appeal,  than  I  have  {ecn  in  any  piece  of  con- 
troverfial  writing  whatever.  If  he  ever  had  read 
my  work,  he  had  quite  forgotten  the  contents  of  it 
at  the  time  of  his  writing,  and  could  never  have 
compared  the  two  together.  I  fliall,  therefore,  do 
it  for  him,  and  let  the  reader  judge  between  us. 

Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  41,  the  great  object  in  the 
narrative  part  of  my  v.'ork  was  "  to  criminate  the 
"  clergy,"  and  that  I  moil  evidendy  do  this,  p.  3, 
"  without  difcrimination."  Now  I  do  not  know 
how  it  was  pofTible  for  me  to  difcriminate  more 

B  2  exprefjly 


4  J}t  Appeal  to  ihc  Public 

exprefsly  tlip.n  I  have  done  in  the  account  that  I  gave 
of  the  condiivft  of  the  clergy ;  calling  fome  of  them 
QTiy  friends ■,  engagsd  in  the  Jnme  cauje^  Preface,  p.  xxiil. 
and  even  acknowledging,  p.  68,  that  fome  of  them 
were  "  amona;  the  fiift  to  afford  me  fubftantial  affift- 
*^  ance."  If,  tlierefore,  I  had  any  where  cenfured 
tlie  clergy  in  general,  it  ought  to  have  been  under- 
ftood  widi  this  limitation,  which  had  been  fufficiently 
exprcfled  before.  But  I  think  it  will  be  found  that 
every  feparatc  pafiage,  if  the  fcope  of  it  be  attended 
to,  is  fafnciendy  guarded,  and  conveys  no  cenfure 
on  the  clergy  as  a  body,  but  only  on  certain  defcrip- 
tlons  of  them.  Mr.  Burn  fhould,  at  leaft,  have 
quoted  fome  pafiage  in  which  this  cenfure  feems  to 
be  general,  and  unqualified ;  but  he  does  no  fuch 
thing,  contenting  himfelf  with  alTerting  it,  without 
producing  any  evidence  of  it  at  all. 

The  pi6lure  that  he  reprefents  me  as  having  given 
of  the  clergy  of  Birmingham  in  particular,  has  no 
e:nftence  but  in  his  own  imagination,  which,  with 
refpeft  to  exaggerated  charges,  is  fufficiendy  fruitful. 
'■'•  Dr.  Prieilley's  account  of  the  clergy,  &c."  he 
fays,  p.  47,  "  is  of  that  kind  which  makes  the  worlt 
"  things  he  can  fay  of  tliem  probable.  The  idea  of 
*^  the  prefent  clergy  of  Birmingham,"  p.  x.  "  will 
*^  but  exhibit  the  detefted  image  of  a  junto  degraded 
'^  by  their  vices  from  the  rank  not  of  minifters 
*'  merely,  but  even  of  men.  Either  the  clergy  of 
"  Birmingham,"  p.  \  7,  "  have  forfeited  dieir  rank 

"  in 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  5 

"  m  fociety,  and  their  claim  on  its  proteftion,  or 
*^  Dr.  Prieftley  has,  in  the  foce  of  his  country,  in- 
'^  curred  the  guilt  of  accufing  the  innocent,  on  the 
*^  ground  of  invented  fa6ts,  and  of  giving  plaufibi- 
''^  lity  to  the  compofition,  by  the  affeilation  ol  can- 
*^  dour  and  chriftian  meeknefs.  It  is  not  permit- 
"  ted,"  p.  loi,  "  to  the  clergy  of  Birmingham, 
"  thus  publickly  arraigned,  or  the  abettors  of  the 
*'  late  riots,  to  throw  in  their  mite  of  concern  at  the 
''  outrages  that  have  been  committed  on  property, 
**  on  the  feelings  of  individuals,  on  general  fcience, 
*^  and  on  the  plaineft  dictates  of  humanity.  Thefe 
*^  are  interefts  in  which,  if  our  accufer  miay  be  cre- 
"  dited,  we  can  feel  no  concern.  It  feems,  in  the 
"  opinion  of  Dr.  Prieftley,  that  to  be,  and  to  a6l, 
**  as  a  man  of  principle  in  the  eftabliihed  church, 
"  deprives  a  man,  by  a  kind  of  profeflional  necef- 
**^  fity,  of  every  claim  to  the  character  of  humanity, 
"  and  levels  him  at  once  to  the  condition  of  a 
«  brute." 

Now  this  frightful  idea  of  the  clergy  of  Birming- 
ham is  as  far  from  having  any  countenance  in  my 
ylppealy  as  it  is  from  my  thoughts.  I  never  had, 
or  exprefled,  any  worfe  idea  of  tliem  than  that 
fome  of  them  were  bigots;  and  there  are  many  very 
honeft  and  worthy  men,  of  whom  it  cannot  be  de- 
nied that  they  are  fo :  i.  e.  perfons  who  are  fo  fully 
perfuaded,  though  without  reafon,  of  the  truth  of 
dieir  own  principles,  that  they  think  much  too  ill 

B  3  of 


6  Jlu  Appeal  to  the  PuMic 

of  thofe  of  others,  and  are  thereby  led  to  fuppori: 
their  principles  by  methods  which  cannot  be  juftified. 

With  refped  to  the  riot,  the  worfl  that  I  ever 
thought,  or  exprelTed,  concerning  the  clergy  of 
Birmingham,  was  that  fome  of  them  had  repre- 
fented  the  Diffenters  in  general,  and  myfelf  in  par- 
ticular^ in  fuch  a  light,  as,  confidering  the  pre- 
vious ilate  of  men's  minds  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  could  not  but  tend  to  inflame  them  againft 
us,  and  prepare  them,  though  unintended  by  them- 
felves,  for  the  outrages  that  were  committed  after- 
wards; and  of  this  I  ihall  prcfently  produce  ample 
proof.  If  I  have  laid  any  thing  more  than  this,  let 
my  words  be  quoted,  and  their  fenfe  afcertained. 
But  all  that  the  reader  has  yet  feen  in  the  above  ex- 
tracts are  the  words  of  Mr.  Burn,  and  not  mine. 

Mr.  Burn,  however,  fays,  p.  124,  "  the  blame 
*'  muft,  as  ufual,  fall  upon  perfons  of  better  condi- 
*^  tion,  and  among  thefe  the  clergy  muft  of  courfe 
*?  be  regarded  as  principals  in  the  guilt  of  the 
"  above  horrid  tranfaftions."  But  what  is  flill 
more  unaccountable  than  this,  he  fays,  p.  xiii. 
"  he  has  commenced  a  regular  attack  upon  four 
**  clergymen  by  name,  whom  he  accufes,  by  the 
"  moft  direct  implication,  as  having  been  the  chief 
"  movers  of  the  popular  tumult  and  outrage,  as 
**  incendiaries,  and  pillagers  of  houfes,  &c.  &c.  If 
**  the  clergy,"  he  fays,  p.  ix.  "  whofe  names  have 

"  been 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham:  7 

'*'  been  brought  forwards  on  this  pccafion  really  ^re, 
"  or  fhould  even  be  fufpefted  to  be,  the  wretches 
^^  which  Dr.  Prieftley  reprefents  them,  their  guilt 
*'  muft  form  an  anomaly  in  the  hiftory  of  crimes." 

Now  I  have  been  far  from  accufing  any  clergy- 
men whatever  as  principals  In  promoting  the  riot ; 
and  what  Mr.  Burn  can  mean  by  faying  that  I  have 
"  commenced  an  attack  upon  four  clergymen  by 
"  name,"  I  am  utterly  unable  to  guefs.  I  do  not 
know  that  I  have  mentioned  four  of  the  clergy  in 
any  view,  and  certainly  not  as  promoters  of  the 
riot  J  and  yet  two  of  them,  Mr.  Curtis  and  Mr. 
Madan,  make  a  feparate  defence  of  their  condufl, 
as  if  they  had  been  formally  arraigned.  It  is  cafy 
to  anfwer  accufations  invented  on  purpofe  to  be  an- 
fwered ;  but  of  what  confequence  is  this,  except  to 
thofe  who  are  impofed  upon  by  the  exaggerated  and 
falfe  reprefentation,  reflefting  blame  upon  the  ac- 
cufer,  inftead  of  anfwering  the  proper  accufation  ? 
In.  all  that  I  have  quoted  from  Mr.  Burn,  he  has 
only  added  to  that  calumny  with  which  I  have  been 
already  fufficiently  loaded,  and  I  publicly  call  upon 
him  to  vindicate  himfelf  from  this  charge, 

I  mull,  however,  acknowledge  that  Mr.  Burn's 
reply  to  my  Appeal,  confidered  as  written  with 
their  concurrence,  gives  me  a  much  worfe  opinion 
of  the  clergy  of  Birmingham  than  I  was  difpofed  t) 
entertain  before.  It  bears  too  evident  marks  of  real 
B  4  malignity. 


8  j^n  Appeal  to  the  Public 

malignity.  It  Hiews  the  unrelenting  temper  of  thofe 
who  have  done  an  injury;  and  on  the  whole,  if  I 
had  my  choice  of  the  two  (harfh  as  is  the  cenfure 
implied  in  what  I  am  going  to  fay),  I  had  rather  go 
out  of  the  world  with  the  difpofition  of  the  brutal 
but  ignorant  rioters,  than  with  theirs. 

It  is  equally  untrue,  and  unjuft,  in  Mr.  Burn  to 
infinuate,  p.  iv.  that  I   reprefented  Mr.  Madan  as 
"  an  unprincipled  favagej"  in  confequence  of  which 
fome  perfons,  he  fays,  "  having  conceived  this  idea 
"  of  him,  were  aftonilhed  when  they  were  afllired, 
"  that  the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  and  the  bene- 
*^  volence  of  his  character,  rendered  him  univer- 
"  fally  refpected."     For  certainly,  this  is  the  very 
idea  that  I  myfelf  have  given  of  Mr.  Madan  in  my 
Familiar  Letters ;  and  my  obfervation  on  it  is,  that 
if  fuch  men  as  he  can  be  fo  inveterate  an  enemy  to 
the  DifTenters,  where  are  we  to  look  for  candour, 
or  juflice  ?  For  any  thing  that  appears  to  the  con- 
trary, Bonner  and  Gardiner  might  be  polite,  and 
even  good-natured  men. 

Mr.  Burn  feems  to  have  imagined  that  my  idea 
of  himfelf  and  his  brethren  is  fuch  as  he  has  con- 
ceived of  mei  and  this  is  Ihocking  enough.  But,  ill 
as  I  have  been  ufed,  I  think  much  better  of  them, 
and  even  of  the  rioters  themfelves.  In  my  next 
feftion  I  Ihall  inform  my  reader  what  that  idea  is, 
and  for  this  I  Ihall  not,  like  him,  produce  a  pifbure 

from 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  9 

from  my  own  imagination,  but  quote  his  own  words. 
It  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that,  though  Mr.  Burn 
profefTes  to  write  an  anfwer  to  my  Appeal,  he  ex- 
prefsly  quotes  very  httle  of  it,  but  replies  to 
fomething  which  he  gives  his  reader  to  underftand 
is  contained  in  it,  but  which  it  will  be  in  vain  for 
him  to  look  for  there.  Many,  however,  will  read 
his  Reply  who  will  neither  read  my  Appeal,  nor  this 
defence  of  it ;  and  with  fuch  readers  his  method  of 
writing  will  anfwer  well  enough.  This  is  not  the 
way  in  which  I  treat  Mr.  Burn,  or  any  of  my  oppo- 
nents. Whether  my  replies  be  fufficient  or  not,  at 
leafh  I  let  my  reader  fee  what  it  is  that  I  reply  to, 
and  in  their  own  words.  Of  this  fair  method  this 
defence  of  my  Appeal  will  be  a  fpechnen. 

When  Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  34,  that  in  his  Reply  to 
my  Letters  to  him  he  anfwered  my  arguments,  but 
pafTed  by  the  abiifey  he  quotes  nothing,  but  leaves 
his  reader  to  fuppofe  that  I  had  written  fomething 
that  might  be  termed  abuje.  I  wilh  his  readers 
would  look  into  thofe  Letters.  They  will  be  much 
at  a  lofs  to  conjefture  what  it  is  that  Mr.  Burn  meant 
to  reprefent  in  that  light.  But  I  fuppofe  that  any 
thing  that  gives  pain,  from  the  difficulty  of  anfwer- 
ing  it,  Mr.  Burn  will  call  abufe,  as  a  libel  is  faid  to 
be  no  Icfs  a  libel,  though  it  be  ever  fo  true. 

In  that  work  of  his  to  which  my  Letters  were  an 
anfwer,  he  thought  himfelf  at  liberty  to  give  the 

5  moll 


10  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

moft  unfavourable  idea  of  my  fentiments,  evidently 
calculated  to  excite  the  refentment  of  his  readers 
againft  mCj  afcribing  to  me  the  worft  defigns,  as 
well  as  the  groffeft  miftakeSj  and  yet  in  him  this 
rnuft  not  be  termed  abufe.  Though  my  only  ob- 
]tdi  in  every  thing  that  I  wrote  about  the  perfon  of 
Chrift  was  to  afcertain  what  the  teftimony  of  die 
apoflles  concerning  him  really  was,  and  I  conftantly 
appealed  to  their  teflimony  as  decifive,  he  ftrangely 
reprefented  me  as  denying  the  infallibility  of  their^ 
tefiimony^  which  he  undertook  to  defend  againft  me; 
and  with  as  little  pretence,  though  it  ferved  to  excite 
an  alarm  at  my  principles,  he  defcribed  them  as 
leading  to  all  vice  and  wickednefs.  But  there  are 
readers  with  whom  any  reprefentations  from  a  cler- 
gyman, in  fuch  a  caufe,  will  have  weight, 

Abufive  as  Mr.  Burn  reprefents  my  pojemicai 
writings  to  be,  I  have  never  yet  charged  any  of  my 
opponents  with  bad  intentions,  or  queftioned  the 
goodnefs  of  their  underftandings ;  but  I  have  always 
imputed  their  miftakes  to  prejudice y  the  efFecfi:  of 
early  imprefiions:  and  if  my  own  opinion,  as  I  muft 
fuppofe,  be  right,  and  confequentiy  thofe  of  my  op- 
ponents be  wrong,  what  lefs  olfenfive  hypothecs 
could  I  frame  for  it  ? 

One  would  think  that  Mr.  Burn  had  never  read 
my  Appeal,  to  which  he  pfofelTes  to  reply,  all  his 
charges  are  fo  totally  void  of  truth,  or  fo  fiiamefully 

exaggerated,  j 


On  the  Riots  hi  Birniingham,  i  % 

exaggerated.  Speaking  of  my  obfervations  on  the 
addrels  to  the  rioters  as  friends  and  fellow -churchmen^ 
he  calls  it,  p.  6j,  "  a  tranlaflion  moil:  fliamefuUy 
*'  reprefented  by  the  author;  and  that,  in  confequencc 
*^  of  the  impofition  contained  in  Dr.  Prieftley's  ftate- 
*^  ment,  this  tranfaflion  was  brought  forward  in  par- 
"  liament."  "  It  is  remarkable,"  he  fays,  p.  ^c^y 
"  that  the  obvious  policy  of  feeming  to  coincide  in 
J^*"  fcntiment  with  a  mob,  for  the  purpofe  of  influenc- 
*^  ing  their  opinions,  and  controlling  their  condud, 
*'  fhould  have  been  aftually  conflrued  into  a  real 
''  defign  of  promoting  and  inflaming  their  vio- 
"  lence."  After  calling  the  rioters  the  fynagogue  of 
Satan^  he  fays,  p.  69,  "  If  there  be  any  thing 
"  doubtful  remaining,  it  muft  appear  to  every  im- 
^'  partial  obferver,  to  be  the  integrity  of  that  man's 
"  motives,  who  can  thus,  to  anfwer  a  purpofe,  make 
"  churchmen  of  rioters,  and  in  the  fame  breath  too 
"  in  which  he  declares  it  to  be  queftionable  whe- 
"  rher  fuch  mifcreants  can  be  faid  to  be  of  any 
«  church." 

Now  all  that  I  have  made  of  this  circumflance 
was  to  fhew  that  the  rioters  were  confide  red  as 
churchmen,  and  that  their  objecl  was  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  DiiTenters,  I  believe,  indeed,  and  I  fhall 
prove,  that  there  was  pofitive  encouragement  given 
to  the  rioters  by  churchmen  of  better  condition, 
but  I  do  not  fay  that  their  defign  in  this  particulaf 
4  part 


1 2  j^n  Appeal  to  the  Public 

part  of  their  condud  was  to  promote  and  inflame  1 
their  violence.    Certainly,  however,  to  addrefs  them 
without  giving  any  intimation  that  what  they  had 
hitherto  done  was  wrong,  was  not  likely  to  prevent 
their  proceeding  farther. 


SECTION    II. 

Of  Mr.  Burn's  Accujation  of  me,  and  his  challenging 
me  to  defend  myfelf 

Let  us  now  lee  what  kind  of  language 
Mr.  Burn  makes  ufe  of  in  his  Reply  to  my  Ap- 
peal, which  he  will,  no  doubt,  fay  contains  nothing 
that  can  properly  be  termed  ahufe. 

Speaking  of  what  I  fay  of  the  clergy  of  Bir- 
mingham, he  calls  it,  p.  99,  "  a  malignant  hypo- 
"  thefis."  In  p.  84,  he  fpeaks  of"  the  unequalled 
*'  malignity  and  injuftice  of  my  reprefentations." 
He  calls  the  language  I  hold  with  refpedt  to  my 
enemies,  p.  xv.  "  the  mofl  complete  infolence, 
''  and  abufe,  that  malignity  itfelf  could  have  fug- 
gefted."  According  to  him,  p.  100,  I  am  "  an 
'*  accufer  of  the  innocent,  not  merely  without  fuf- 
**  ficient  evidence,  but  in  open  defiance  of  the 
**  moft  palpable  and  uniform  feries  of  facts,"    Of 

my 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  1 3 

my  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham^  he  fays, 
p.  39,  "  it  was  as  great  an  outrage  upon  charac- 
"  ter,  as  the  condud  of  the  rioters  was  upon  pro- 
"  perty." 

One  of  the  mofl  curious  infinuations  of  Mr.  Burn 
is  his  reprefenting  me  as  fo  overbearing,  that  it  was 
an  offence,  p.  77,  in  the  clergy  of  Birmingham  to 
think  for  themfelves  without  my  permiffion.  This  is 
the  more  extraordinary,  as  he  fays,  p.  37,  "  No 
"  man  has  done  more  than  I  have  to  invite,  and 
"  even  to  provoke  difcullion."  Would  I  have  done 
this,  if  the  controverting  of  my  opinions  had  been  fo 
very  offenfive  to  me  ?  But  while  Mr.  Burn  quotes 
nothing,  and  only  gives  his  own  idea  of  me,  and  of 
my  writings,  he  has  no  check  upon  him  befides  his 
own  difcretion.  I  will  venture  to  affert,  that  all  who 
are  really  acquainted  with  me  will  fay  that  Mr. 
Burn's  account  is  the  reverfe  of  my  charadter. 

But  the  moft  injurious  of  all  Mr.  Burn's  infinua- 
tions are  thofe  by  which  he  would  give  his  readers 
to  underftand,  that  my  writings  arc  calculated  to 
difturb  the  peace  of  the  country,  and  that  I  am  in- 
tending fomething  more  than  the  mere  difcuffion  of 
theological  or  political  queftions.  Of  the  Preface  to 
my  Letters  to  him,  he  fays,  p.  27,  "  it  is  written 
"  with  more  freedom,  in  the  opinion  of  many,  than 
*^  is  praftically  confiftent  with  the  intire  peace  of 
"  the  country,"     This  was  alfo  the  objed  of  the 

Extrads 


i  4  ^n  appeal  to  the  Public 

£xtrad:s  that  were  made  from  the  Preface,  whicli 
were  fent  to  all  the  bifhops  and  members  of  the 
Hoiife  of  Commons,  as  every  thing  in  that  Preface 
that  ihewed  that  my  only  objeft  was  free  and  calm  dif- 
culTion,  was  omitted,  and  the  other  paflages  v/ere  fo 
put  together,  as  to  be  calculated  to  excite  alarm. 

With  the  lame  unfairnefs  Mr.  Burn  reprefents 
my  Letter  to  Mr.  Piitj  p.  21,  as  "  menacing, 
**  and  infolent,  mofl  unconftitutionally  infringing. 
**  upon  freedom  of  debate;  a  perfonal  invedive, 
*^  and  not  an  anfvver  to  arguments.  It  was,"  he 
fays,  p.  19,  "^^  a  fair  developement  of  what  I  would 
*'  be  at,  and  in  the  judgment  of  fober  men  marked 
*^  with  fom.e  degree  of  precifion  the  boundary  of 
"  my  ambition."  Now  as  few  men  write  more  in- 
telligibly dian  I  do,  it  is  very  eafy  to  fee  the  extent  of 
my  views,  in  that,-  or  in  any  other  of  my  publications  j 
ind  this  has  always  been  to  ftate  my  own  opinions 
on  any  fubjed,  and  to  invite  the  fulleft  difcufTion  of 
them.  What  can  be  my  amhitioHy  when  I  plead  for 
abolilhing  all  civil  eftablifhments  of  religion,  as  hof- 
tile  to  the  genius  of  it,  and  a  burden  to  the  ftate  ; 
and  when  I  claim  nothing  for  myfelf  but  what  I 
equally  plead  for  all  perfons  without  exception  ?  Be- 
fides,  in  all  my  propofals  for  the  reformation  of  the 
greateft  abufes,  I  exprefsly  fay  that  I  would  have  no 
man  difturbed  in  his  prefent  poffefllon,  but  that 
the  retrenchment  fhould  affe6l  the  fuccefTor  only. 
Is  this  ambition  ?  Is  it  not  the  greateft  moderation  ? 

Buc 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  1 5 

But  in  me  nothing  can  be  moderation.     It  mull  be 
ambition,  or  fomething  equally  bad. 

Perhaps  the  moft  perverfe  of  Mr.  Burn's  con- 
ftruflions  of  my  writing,  is  his  inferring  from  what 
I  have  faid  of  the  French  "  having  no  court  for  the 
"  nobility  and  clergy  to  look  up  to,  and  to  depend 
'<^  upon,"  that  I  confider  it,-  p.  30,  "  as  the  duty  of' 
"  Englifhmen  to  renovate  this  part  of  their  confti- 
"  tution,    which    lodges   the    government   in   the 
"  hands  of  an  individual;"  that  is,  that  it  is  my 
wifli,  and  I  doubt  notj  he  would  add,  that  it  wil! 
be  my  endeavour,  that  there  be  no  king  in  Eng- 
land.    It   is  very   fortunate   for  me  that  I   never 
wrote   a    Roman    Hifbory :    for    had    I    exprefled 
any  approbation  of  the   eonduft   of  the  Romans 
in  banilhing   the  Tarquins,    Mr.  Burn's   inference 
of  my  antipathy  to  all  kingly  power  would  havef 
been    much   flronger,   as   they   kft   no  hereditary 
power  in  the  country ;  whereas  there  flilt  is  a  king 
in  France  *,  though  not  fuch  a  king  as  the  nobility 
or  clergy  can  look  up  to  for  much  emolument. 
Mr.  Burn  can  fee  no  medium,  at  leaft  in  me,  be- 
tween retrenching  exorbitant  power,  and  taking  it 
away  entirely.    At  all  events,  1  mull  be  reprefented 
as  a  rcpubUcan;   and  with  many  republicanifm  is 
fynonymous  to  every  thing  that  is  dreadful  and  de- 

*  This  was  written  before  the  revolution  of  the  xoch  of  AuguftV 
which,  111  the  tircumlutnces  of  France,  was  a  happy  and  necellary 
C'^mpletion  of  that  of  the  14th  of  July. 

tellable. 


1 6  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

teftable,  perfeft  anarchy  and  confufion,  to  f;iy  the 
leaft. 

It  is  generally  deemed  fair  to  interpret  particular 
cxprefiions  in  one  part  of  any  perfon's  writings  by 
his  declared  fentiments  in  others  of  them.  Now  in 
my  political  writings,  which  however  are  not  nume- 
rous, I  have  again  and  again  praifed  the  Englifh 
conftitution,  as  confifting  of  the  three  eftates  of 
King,  Lords,  and  Commons.  What  candour  or 
juftice,  then,  is  there  in  fuppofing  that  I  wifh  the 
fubverfion  of  it  ?  I  thought  it  neceffary  to  premife 
thefe  obfervations,  which  demonftrate  a  dilpofition 
in  Mr.  Burn  and  the  clergy  of  Birmingham,  with 
whofe  concurrence  he  wrote,  to  put  the  word  con- 
ftru6lion  on  every  thing  I  fay  or  do,  which,  if  I  may 
adopt  their  language,  is  an  outrage  on  character 
fimilar  to  that  which  the  rioters  committed  on  my 
property. 

Let  us  now  come  to  the  examination  of  the/^^j 
wiiich  I  have  advanced,  the  evidence  for  which  is  fo 
loudly  called  for  by  Mr.  Burn.  And  furely,  if  there 
be  any  thing  wrong  in  producing  this  evidence,  that 
is,  what  I  take  to  be  fuch,  the  blame  muft  lie  with 
thofe  who  called  for  it.  With  refped  to  accufation 
unfupportcd  by  fa6ts,  Mr.  Burn  exprefles  himfelf 
very  properly,  though  without  refledling  to  whom 
his  cenfure  applies.    "  If  a  chara(51:er,"  p.  26,  "  muft 

at 


On  the  Riois  in  Birmingham.  1 7 

'^  at  any  rate  be  defamed,  nothing  in  the  v/orld  can 
"  be  fo  convenient  for  the  purpofe  of  invented  ca- 
*^  lumny,  as  an  appeal  to  anonymous  report.  The 
"  introduction  of  anonymous  report,"  p.  25,  "  whe- 
"  ther  true  or  falfe,  inco  this  ferious  argument,  is 
'<  more  than  imperdnenC;  it  is  infidious." 

Mr.  Burn's  chailenge  of  me  to  produce  authori- 
ties for  what  I  have  advanced  is  fuch  as  becomes  a 
dihgent  inquirer  after   truth,   and  one  who  would 
not  Ihrink  from  it.     "  If,"  fays  he,  p.  26,  "  the 
"  dofbor  would  convift  by  evidence,  we  invite  him 
"  to   die  proof  of  his  charge.     Let  him,"  p.  c^<^, 
"  produce  inftances  rrom  the  condu6l  of  the  upper 
"  ckfs  of  people,  whom  he  thus  gravely  accufes. 
"  He  is,  no  doubt,  in  polTeffion  of  the  facls."  Wi'cli 
rcfpeft  to  what  I  laid  of  fome  of  them  being  con- 
cerned ii».  the  infuks  offered  to  me,  he  fays,  p.  2 St 
**  Let  him  then  come  fairly  to  the  proof,  or  let 
"  him  expunge  all    illiberal  infinuations  from  the 
"  lift  of  his  charges."  When  I  faid  that  the  cleareft 
fa6ls  Iliew  that  there  was  more  than  remifihefs  0/1 
the  part  of  many  perfons  of  better  condition,  and 
that  nothing  they  did  fhewcd  a  real  difapprobation 
of  the  conduct  of  the  mob  previous  to  the^  deftruc- 
tion  of  my  houfe,  Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  67,  "  Then 
"  produce  them.     On  dfis  fubjed,"  he  lays,  p,  g^^ 
"  be  explicit,  firs"  and  "  of  this  afTqrdon  h&  pro- 
'^  duces  no  evidence."    This  i^  the  rnoft  rfiaterial 
article  in  the  queftion  that  is  now  before  the  Publ,c, 
C  an 


1 8  Jn  Appeal  to  the  Puhlk 

and  therefore  I  fhall  endeavour  to  do  what  Mr* 
Burn  challenges  me  to  do,  viz.  to  fupport  what  I 
have  advanced,  by  an  appeal  to  fad:s. 

Mr.  Burn  infults  me,  p.  8 1,  with  not  having 
^^  proceeded  againfl:  the  magiflrates  legally,  but 
"  contented  myfelf  with  venting  my  fpleen  into- 
*^  lerated  flander."  But  the  hiftory  of  the  affizes 
at  Worcefter  and  Warwick,  and  of  what  pafled  iri 
the  Houfe  of  Commons  itfelf,  will,  I  hope,  jirftify  us 
in  not  appealing  to  the  laws  of  our  country  in  fuch  a 
cale  as  this.  Though,  however,  we  have  no  profped: 
of  fuccefs  ihere^  we  ihall  venture  to  appeal  to  a  higher 
and  more  refpeftable  tribunal,  "  our  countrymerx 
"  in  general,"  as  Mr.  Burn  quotes  my  own  words^ 
in  his  motto,  "  the  world  at  large,  and  efpecially 
"  posterity/* 

I  have  not,  in  my  Appeal,  faid  much  of  the 
condudt  of  the  clergy  of  Birmingham :  Mr, 
Burn,-  however,  fuppofes  that  I  have ;  and  on 
that  fuppofition  he  fays,  p.  103,  "  Dr.  Pri^ftley 
*^  ftands  forward  as  d>e  accufcr  of  the  clergy  of 
"  Birmingham,  and  he  is  now  called  upon  as  pub- 
"  licly  by  one  of  that  body,  either  to  fubftantiate,  or 
"  rctraft,  his  charge.  The  author  of  this  reply,"  he 
fays,  p.  103,  "  will  not  flirink  from  the  inquiry,, 
"  He  invites  it.  If  there  be  any  one  motive  that 
"  influences  him  more  than  another  in  this  affair, 
**  it  is  the  hope  that,  by  promoting  this  difcuffion, 

"  in 


On  the  Riots  in  "Birmingham,  1 9 

"  In  vindication  of  the  charader  of  the  innocent,  he 
"  may  at  the  fame  time  affifl  Dr.  Prieftley  and  the 
**  Public,  in  a  clear  and  full  detcftion  of  the  guilty.** 
I  iliall  be  much  obliged  to  him  for  this  affiftance. 

With  refpedl  to  what  I  have  faid  of  the  paflions 
of  the  lower  order  of  the  people  being  inflamed  by 
the  preaching  of  the  clergy,  Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  38, 
"  We  do  aver  from  our  own  pradlicc,  from  the 
**  pra6lice  of  our  brethren  in  general,  prior  to  the 
"  late  unhappy  aff*air,  that  this  reprefentation  of  the 
*^  condu6t  of  the  clergy  is  not  a  true  one.  For  the 
"  truth  of  this  declaration  we  can  cheerfully  appeal 
*^  to  the  conftant  experience  of  our  hearers."  This 
is  fufficiently  bold;  and  I  fhall  anfwer  the  challenge, 
not  by  appealing  to  Mr.  Burn's  hearers,  but  to 
printed  documents,  fermons  preached  at  the  time, 
and  now  extant.    Liter  a  Jcripta  7nanet, 

Thus  publicly  and  boldly  called  upon,  I  Ihall 
proceed  to  the  vindication  of  what  I  have  advanced 
in  my  Appeal ;  firft  with  refpet!^  to  what  pafTed  pre- 
vious to  the  riot,  and  the  probable  caufe  of  it; 
then  what  took  place  during  the  riot,  and  fubfe- 
quent  to  it.  I  only  requeil  an  impartial  atten- 
tion to  fuch  facts  as  I  iliall  produce ;  and  it  muft  be 
confidered  that,  not  having  been  myfelf  a  witnefs  of 
what  I  fhall  relate,  I  muft  neceffarily  depend  upon 
the  teftimony  of  others;  and  as  in  this  I  may, 
C  2  through 


20  ^n  appeal  to  the  Public 

through  mifinformation,  be  mlftaken,  I  fincerely 
wiih  to  hear  what  may  be  alleged  on  the  other  fide. 
I  cannot  wifh  to  be  mified  myfelf,  nor  would  I 
knowingly  miflead  others ;  and  the  prefs  is  as  open 
to  my  opponents  as  it  is  to  myfelf.  After  this  it  will 
be  in  the  power  of  our  readers  to  judge  whether  I 
be  what  Mr.  Burn,  p.  ic6,  calls  me,  "  a  public  flan- 
*'  derer,''  or  not. 


SECTION    III. 

Of  'Ercents  preirious  to  the  Rioty  and  of  the  more  difiant 
Caujes  of  it. 

1  HAT  there  exifted  in  Birmingham,  and 
in  all  that  part  of  the  country,  a  ftrong  fpirit  of 
party,  exceedingly  unfavourable  to  Diflenters, 
is  evident  from  a  variety  of  circumftances  j 
and,  independently  of  any  that  I  have  men- 
tioned, it  mud  appear  probable  from  the  hiilory  of 
thofe  counties  in  this  refpeft,  given  at  length  in  an 
excellent  pamphlet  lately  publifhed,  entitled.  High 
Church  Politics,  in  which  it  is  Ihewn  that  the 
neighbourhood  of  Birmingham  was  the  head  quar- 
ters of  Dr.  Sachcverelli  and  that,  in  the  reign  of 
George  I.  feveral  meeting  houfes  were  dcftroyed  by 

rioters 


On  the  Riois  m  Binniniham.  2  1 

rioters  irt  tliat  town,  and  others  in  thofe  parts.  The 
fadls  that  I  mentioned  in  proof  of  the  exiltence  of 
this  party  fpirit,  and  that  it  v/as  far  from  originating 
widi  me,  or  being  promoted  by  me,  Mr.  Burn  has 
attempted  to  invalidate.  But  let  the  reader  judge 
with  what  effed:. 

One  of  the  inftances  that  I  mentioned  was  that 
the  clergy  refufed  to  v/alk  in  funeral  proceffions 
with  dilTenting  minifters.  I  obferved  that  Mr. 
Curtis  refufed  to  do  fo  at  the  application  of  Mr. 
Scholefield.  This  Mr.  Burn  infinuates  was  not  on 
account  of  his  objeifling  to  doing  this  with  diffent- 
ing  minifters  in  general,  or  Mr.  Scholefield  in  par- 
ticular, but  with  myfelf  only;  "  left,"  as  he  fays, 
p.  4,  "  he  ftiould  be  led  to  aft  officially  with  one 
"  whofe  oppofidon  to  the  doflrines  and  difcipline 
"  of  the  church  of  v/hich  he  is  a  member,  had  car- 
"  ried  him  into  exceffes,  in  his  apprehenfion,  in  die 
"  higheft  degree  illiberal  and  indecent.  Of  this 
"  clafs  he  juftly  confidered  Dr.  Prieftley.  With 
"  him  therefore  he  could  not  confiftently  adt  upon 
"  fuch  an  occafion ;  and  for  this  reafon  folely  he  re- 
*•  fufed  to  comply  in  the  inftance  produced  by  the 
«  Doftor." 

But  this  inftance  of  bigotry  in  the  clergy  of  Bir- 
mingham appeared  before  I  went  thither.    More  than 
forty  years  ago  Mr.  Wearden,  curate  of  St.  Philip's, 
cxprcffed  his  concern  that  he  could  not  walk  with 
Cj  Mr. 


2  2  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

Mr.  Blythe  at  the  funeral  of  Mr.  RufTel's  grand- 
mother, hav'ng,  as  he  faid,  received  orders  to  the 
contrary  from  Mr.  Vyfe,  who  was  then  the  re6tor. 

In  1770,  Mr.  Dovey,  re£tor  of  St.  Martin's,  re- 
fufed  to  go  into  a  mourning  coach  along  with  Mr. 
Blythe  at  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Webiler ;  and  after 
the  funeral  he  faid  to  Mr.  Webfter,  that  "  when  the 
"  DilTenters  wilhed  their  own  minifters  to  attend 
'*  their  friends  to  the  grave,  they  had  better  not  in- 
"  vite  the  clergy  of  the  eftablifhment." 

After  this  Mr.  Webfter,  having  the  dire<5i:Ion  of 
the  funeral  of  Mr.  Haddock,  omitted  to  invite  Mr. 
Dovey,  and  alfo  to  fend  the  hatband,  fcarf,  and 
gloves,  which  it  had  been  ufual  to  give  the  attend- 
ing clergyman.  Unwilling  to  lofe  thefe  perquifites, 
Mr.  Dovey  fent  to  inform  Mr.  Webfter,  that, 
though  he  did  not  choofe  to  attend  the  funeral 
along  with  the  DifTenting  minifters,  he  did  not 
mean  to  refufe  what  was  ufually  given  on  thofe  oc- 
cafions.  Mr.  Webfter,  however,  very  properly  with- 
held them. 

At  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Stephens  of  Deretend,  Mr. 
Aufted  refufed  to  ride  before  the  hearfe  along  with 
the  diflfenting  minifter,  and  haughtily  bade  him 
ride  behind  the  hearfe. 

At  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Gilborne,  when  Mr.  Dovey 

refufed 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  23 

refufed  to  walk  in  proc^fTion  with  Mr.  Bourn,  a  man 
of  adlivity  and  fpirit,  the  following  pkafant  circum- 
itance  happened :  Mr.  Dovey  meeting  the  corpfe, 
and  finding  Mr.  Bourn  walking  before  it,  direded 
him'  to  walk  behind-  Mr.  Bourn  not  complying  with 
this  order,  Mr.  Dovey  endeavoured  to  outwalk  him, 
but  Mr.  Bourn,  being  as  nimble  as  he,  kept  up  with 
him,  till,  the  Rector  quickening  his  pace,  they  both 
fairly  ran  for  it,  till  they  got  to  the  church  door.  Mr. 
Dovey  was  fo  much  offended,  that,  after  the  funeral, 
his  pride  getting  the  better  of  every  odier  confidera- 
tion,  he  fcnt  back  the  hatband  and  fcarf^  and  even 
the  pins  that  had  been  ufed  on  the  occafion. 

Thefe  inftances  certainly  Ihow  that  the  refufal  of 
the  clergy  of  Birmingham  to  walk  in  funeral  procef- 
fion  with  dilTenting  minifters  did  not  arife  from  any 
obje6lion  they  had  to  m.ylclf  in  pardcular,  as  Mr. 
Burn  intimates;  but  from  an  abfurd  bigotry  of 
long  Handing  in  the  place;  and  I  believe  hardly 
known  in  any  other  part  of  die  kingdom. 

Befides,  if  Mr.  Curtis  had  fo  violent  an  objeftion 
to  myfelf  in  particular,  why  did  he  come  to  hear  me 
preach,  or  meet  me  at  the  committee  of  the  Hbrary, 
of  that  for  the  abolition  of  the  fiave  trade,  and  on 
other  occafions,  on  which  he  always  behaved  to  me 
with  great  civility?  And  at  the  time  that  he  refufed 
to  walk  with  Mr,  Scholefield,  which,  Mr.  Burn  fays, 
was  folely  on  my  account,  he  gave  a  reafon  which 
C  4  affedted 


24  -An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

affe(5ted  all  diflenting  minifters ;  and  I  had  not  dien 
done  any  thing  to  make  myfelf  more  obnoxious  than 
I  had  when  he  came  to  hear  me.  I  am  alfo  credi- 
bly informed  that  Mr.  Curtis  himfelf,  on  reading  my 
Appeal,  declared  that  I  had  given  a  juft  account  of 
his  condu6t,  that  it  was  the  bigotry  he  found  in  the 
place  that  led  him  to  ad:  as  he  had  done,  and  that  he 
had  not  himfelf  any  cbjeflion  to  walking  with  dif- 
fenting  minifters  at  funerals.  How  this  is  to  be  re- 
conciled with  his  giving  his  fandion  to  Mr.  Burn's 
Reply  is  no  bufinefs  of  mine. 

Another  inftance  of  the  High  Church  bigotry  of 
the  town  of  Birmingham  that  I  mentioned,  was  the 
fubfcribers  to  the  Sunday  fchools  having  refcinded 
a  law  v/hich  permitted  the   children  to   go  to  any 
place  of  public  worfhip   that  their  parents  chofe. 
On  this  Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  GG,  "It  has  happened, 
*'  unfortunately  for  his  purpofe,  that  either  through 
"  mifinformation,  or  a  fettled  plan  of  perverting  and 
"  rendering  odious  the  condudl  of  others,"  (and  this 
is  the  turn  that  Mr.  Burn  generally  choofes  to  give 
to  all    my  accounts    of  things)    "   he  has    totally 
"  mifreprefented  this  plain  bufinefs.    Tlie  fad,"  he 
fays,  p.  8 1 ,  "  was  that  the  law  was  never  refcinded 
*'  at  all;"  and  after  giving  a  detail  of  pretended 
proofs  to  the  contrary,  he  fays,  p.  12,  "  Let  Dr. 
"  Pricflley,  by  fads,  confute   this  ftatement  if  he 
"  can."   He  alfo  fays,  p.  9,  "  To  refcind  the  above 
"  law,  was  an  ad  for  which  no  committg:;  was  com^ 

"  petent 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham'.  25 

*'  petent,  and  there,  unqueftionably,  never  was  a  ge- 
"  neral  meeting  held  for  any  fuch  purpofe."  Mr. 
Riland,  another  clergyman^  fays,  p.  106,  "  I  have 
"  no  doubt  but  that  your  rcprefentation"  (writing 
to  Mr.  Burn)  "  is  perfedtly  right,  and  his"  (mine) 
**  is  totally  wrong." 

Though  this  reply  of  Mr.  Burn  was  written  with 
the  concurrence  of  Mr.  Curtis,  it  is  now  clearly 
proved  that  my  account  is  ftridtly  true.  A  general 
meeting  of  the  fubfcribers  to  the  Sunday  fchools 
was  held  (though  Mr.  Burn  fays  there  unqueftionably 
was  not)  without  any  previous  notice  of  the  bufinefs 
that  was  to  come  before  them.  When  it  was  pro- 
pofed  to  refcind  the  law,  the  votes  were  equal,  and 
Mr.  Curtis,  being  in  the  chair,  decided  in  favour  of 
refcinding  it.  The  evidence  of  the  refcindino;  is  a 
public  advertifement  in  the  Birmingham  newfpa- 
per,  immediately  after  the  tranfaftion,  as  was  noticed 
by  Mr.  Scholefield,  with  proper  obfcrvations  with 
refpe6l  to  the  dependance  there  could  be  on  other 
bold  aflertions  in  Mr.  Burn's  reply.  This  will  be 
found  in  my  Appendix,  No.  I. 

I  do  not  fay  that  even  this  palpable  fiilfehood 
was  a  wilful  one,  as  Mr.  Burn,  or  Mr.  Madan, 
would  not  fcruple  to  fay  with  refpeft  to  me  j  but  it 
argues  fuch  a  dcfe6l  of  memory  as  may  be  kereafter 
quoted  as  one  of  the  moft  remarkable  things  of  this 
nature  in  the  hiftory  of  the  human  mind.    It  is  the 

more 


26  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

more  fo,  as,  when  Mr.  Burn  himfelf  applied  to  Mr. 
John  Lawrence  for  his  fubfcription,  and  was  refufed 
on  account  of  the  refcinding  of  the  rule  above  men- 
tioned, Mr.  Burn  immediately  faid  to  a  perfon  who 
accompanied  him,  "  1  told  you  how  it  would  be.  I 
"  am  forry  for  itj"  he  himfelf  having  difapproved 
of  the  conduil  of  the  Higli  Church  party  in  this  bufi- 
nefs.  Indeed  I  never  confidered  Mr.  Burn  as  a 
bigot ;  and,  as  having  been  both  a  Methodift  and  a 
Diffenter,  rather  a  friend  to  both.  The  fad;  above- 
mentioned  Vv'as  related  to  me  by  Mr.  Lawrence  pre- 
fently  after  it  happened. 

The  defeft  in  the  memory  of  Mr.  Curtis  is  as  re- 
markable as  that  of  Mr.  Burn ;  and  that  two  men 
fhould  labour  under  the  fame  defe6l,  with  refpeft  to 
the  fame  thing,  is  more  extraordinary  ftill.  For  he 
was  not  only  chairman  at  the  meedng  in  which  the 
rule  was  refcinded,  and  decided  the  queftion  himfelf; 
but  when,  after  this,  he  called  upon  Mr.  Punfield  for 
his  fubfcription,  he  was  refufed,  and  was  informed 
that  it  was  for  the  fame  reafon. 

That  this  conduct  in  the  fubfcribers  to  the  Sun- 
day fchools  arofe  from  the  moft  contemptible  bi- 
gotry, no  perfon  of  tiie  lead  degree  of  liberality  will 
deny ;  and  that  this  bigotry  was  of  long  Handing  in 
Birmingham,  in  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Curtis  himfelf, 
was  evident  from  the  following  circumftance,  which 
I  Ihall  relate  from  my  own  recolleclion.    When  a 

friend 


Oti  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  27 

frknd  of  mine  was  going  to  that  meeting  of  the  fub- 
fcribers,  at  which  it  was  agreed  to  permit  the  fcho- 
iars  to  attend  whatever  place  of  worihip  their  pa- 
rents fhould  choofe,  he  was  joined  by  Mr.  Curtis ; 
and  talking  about  the  bufinefs  of  the  meeting,  Mr. 
Curtis,  who  was  then  a  friend  to  the  propofal,  faid 
he  was  afraid  they  fhould  not  be  able  to  carry  it, 
**  there  was  fo  much  of  the  old  leaven  yet  remaining 
"  in  Birmingham."  I  have  no  doubt  but  Mr.  Cur- 
tis would  have  afted  with  the  liberality  becoming  a 
perfon  of  a  diffenting  family,  if  he  had  not  found  fo 
much  of  what  he  properly  termed  the  eld  leaven  in 
Birmingham.  That  he  had  not  the  fortitude  to  adl 
agreeably  to  the  natural  dilates  of  his  own  mind, 
by  which  it  would  have  been  in  his  power  to  expel 
that  old  leaven,  is  much  to  be  lamented.  My  houfe 
and  meeting  houfe  would  have  been  (landing,  and 
I  fhould  now  have  been  at  Birmingham,  much  more 
agreeably  employed  than  I  am  at  this  moment. 

When  Mr.  Scholefield  publifhcd  a  copy  of  the  re- 
folution  of  the  fubfcribers  to  the  Sunday  fchools 
refcinding  the  rule  above  mentioned,  and  which  Mr. 
Burn,  Mr.  Riland,  and,  in  effeft,  Mr.  Curtis  alfo 
(by  joining  in  the  fandion  of  the  other  clergymen  of 
Birmingham  to  Mr.  Burn's  Reply)  folemnly  de- 
clared never  to  have  been  relcinded  at  all;  Mr. 
Burn  does  not  acknowledge  the  plain  inference 
from  the  flid,  viz.  the  exiftence  of  a  fpirit  of  High 
Church  bigotry  in  Birmingham,   independendy  of 

any 


28  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

any  thing  that  I  could  have  done  to  excite  it  (and  it 
was  with  this  view  that  I  mentioned  it  at  all)  but 
^nly  defires  of  hii  readers,  what  they  would  certainly 
do  without  his  defire,  that  ''  that  part  of  his  ftate- 
"  ment,  &c.  m^y  not  be  confidered  as  weighing  any 
*'^  thing  in  his  general  argument  againft  me."  What 
was  it  but  a  degree  of  bigotry  of  the  moft  extrava- 
gant kind  to  refcind  a  rule  by  which  the  fcholars 
were  permitted  to  attend  public  worlhip  where  their 
parents  chofe,  when  in  no  one  inflance  had  any  of 
them,  in  faft,  attended  any  other  worlhip  than  that 
of  the  Church  of  Endand. 


'iD^ 


The  bigotry  of  the  church  people  at  Birmingham 
appears,  perhaps,  more  clearly  in  their  condudl  of 
a  charity  fchool  which  has  been  eflablilhed  therd 
upwards  of  forty  years ;  not  only  as  it  is  a  rule  in 
the  inftitution  of  this  fchool,  that  no  children  Iliall  be  ' 
admitted  that  are  not  of  the  eflablilhed  church,  but 
that  they  fhall  not  be  bound  apprentices  to  any  Dif- 
fenter.  Nay,  in  two  inllances,  the  managers  of  this 
charity  even  refufed  to  accept  of  the  fubfcriptions  of 
Diflenters  voluntarily  offered  them.  Both  Mr.  La- 
kin  and  Mr.  Peyton,  to  their  great  furprife,  had  their 
money  rejeded. 

I  confider  it  as  a  proof  of  High  Church  princi- 
ples, unfavourable  to  civil  and  rehgious  liberty,  that 
the  centenary  celebration  of  the  revoludon  in   1688, 
was  not  attended  by  any  of  the  clergy  of  Birming- 
ham, 


On  the  Riots  in  B'lrmmgham.  29 

bam,  and  they  did  every  thing  in  their  power  to  ren- 
der it  unpopular.  Their  favourite  toaft  of  Church 
and  King  was  objc6bed  to.  The  meeting  was  at- 
tended by  a  Catholic  clergyman,  and  tl:ie  DiOTenting 
miniilers. 

The  lad  infcance  I  fhall  mention  of  the  exiftencs 
of  a  high  party  fpirit  in  the  clergy  of  Birmingham  is, 
that  one  of  that  body,  of  a  more  liberal  turn,  when 
he  left  the  place,  declared  it  was  en  that  account, 
and  that  for  this  reafon  he  could  not  live  in  comfort 
in  it. 

This  extreme  bigotry  is  not  peculiar  to  the  towa 
of  Birmino;ham,  but  extends  to  the  neis-hbourin"- 
coundes.  As  a  curious  inllance  of  this,  I  Hiall  ob- 
ferve,  that  Mr.  Mould,  of  Meafliam,  near  Afliby  de 
la  Zouch,  refufed,  the  laft  year,  to  officiate  at  the 
funeral  of  a  child  of  John  Bancroft,  a  DiHcnterj  and 
declared,  that  no  Didenter  fhould  be  buried  by  him. 
In  confequence  of  this,  the  child  v/as  put  into  the 
grave  v/ithout  any  tiling  being  faid  at  the  placej  and 
the  mother  v/as  fo  much  affefted,  that  (he  was  taken 
home  very  ill.  It  is  happy  that  this  clergyman  has  not 
the  keys  of  the  gates  of  heaven,  nor  wholly  thofe  of 
the  grave. 

That  I  faWj  lamented,  and  endeavoured  to  allay,  this 
part}'  fpirit  in  the  town  of  Birmingham,  by  perfuad- 
ing  the  Diffenters  to  give  up  the  difpofal  of  the  civil 

offices 


30  An  Appeal  io  the  Publk 

ofRces,  is  well  known  to  all  my  acquaintance,  though 
Mr.  Bum  is  incredulous  on  the  fubject.  "  This/'  he 
fays,  p.  1 6,  in  his  infulting  manner,  "  confidering  the 
"  Doctor's  natural  diffidence  of  power,  and  the  ex- 
*'  treme  readinefs  which  himfelf  and  principal  friends 
"  have  ever  difcovered  in  giving  up  authority  once 
"  obtained,  mufl  appear  a  very  probable,  as  well  as 
"  intereflingftory.  It  is,  however,  ftriflly  true.  To 
mention  no  more,  Mr.  RuiTel,  Mr.  G.  Humphrys, 
the  two  Mr.  Hunts,  and  the  three  Mr.  Rylands, 
who  thought  as  I  did  on  the  fubje6t,  will  bear  me 
witnefs,  as  well  as  others,  who  were  not  DifTenters.  I 
may  add  all  my  particular  acquaintance,  without  ex- 
ception, know  that  I  conftantly  blamed  the  DifTen- 
ters for  keeping  that  power  in  their  ov/n  hands. 

That  the  Diifenters  of  Birmingham  were  not  fo 
attentive  as  they  might  have  been  to  retain  the 
power  they  once  had,  appeared  in  their  conduct  with 
refpeft  to  king  Edward's  charity  fchool  in  that 
town  ;  the  governors  of  which  v/ere  once  DifTenters, 
and  it  was  in  their  power  to  have  admitted  no  other 
among  themj  but  they  always  chofe  to  take  fome  of 
the  principal  of  the  church  people  to  ad  with  them. 
It  happened,  however,  that  at  one  particular  meeting, 
at  which  thofe  church  people  made  a  point  of  attend- 
ing, while  fome  of  the  DifTenters  were  abfent,  they 
took  that  opportunity  of  choofing  another  church- 
man, by  which  they  became  the  majority ;  and  from 
that  time,  except  in  the  fingie  cafe  of  Mr.  Ruflel, 

they 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  3 1 

they  have  never  chofen  any  Diffenter  into  their 
body,  and  have  repeatedly  declared  they  never 
would.  Let  not  then  the  church  people  at  Birming- 
ham upbraid  the  DifTenters  with  a  love  of  power. 

I  had  a  view  to  the  bigotry  of  the  town  of  Birming- 
ham, and  hoped  to  fucceed  in  allaying  it,  by  means 
of  the  public  library,  in  the  eftablifhrnent  of  which  I 
particularly  interefted  myfelf;  as  that  would  neceffa- 
rily  bring  the  reading  and  thinking  part  of  the  town 
better  acquainted  with  each  other.  The  annual  ad- 
verdfement,  which  was  drawn  up  by  me,  and  which 
was  continued  for  fome  time  by  the  High  Church 
party,  after  they  gained  the  afcendancy  they  now 
have  in  that  library,  but  which  they  have  fince 
dropped,  I  lliall  infert  in  the  Appendix,  No.  II. 

"With  refpe<5l  to  the  bufinefs  of  the  library,  in 
which  it  was  not  pofTibie  for  any  man  to  ad  with 
more  liberality  than  I  did,  Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  14, 
"  We  never  faw  great  talents  fo  degraded  by  party 
"  confiderations  as  in  the  conducft  of  Dr.  Prieftley 
*'  in  fome  part  of  that  bufinefs."  But,  in  his  ufual 
manner,  he  does  not  fay  v/hat  thofe  parts  of  my  con- 
duct were.  As  a  fmall  pamphlet,  which  I  publiihed 
on  occafion  of  a  motion  to  prevent  the  purchafe  of 
books  of  religious  controverfy,  will  give  the  read- 
er fome  idea  of  the  fpirit  with  which  I  afted  in 
this  bufinefs,  I  Ihall  give  the  whole,  or  a  confider- 
able  part  of  it,  in  the  Appendix,  No,  III.j  and  \ti 
4  Mr. 


3  2  ^tt  Appeal  to  the  Public 

Mr.  Burn,  if  he  pleafes,  republifh  the  pamphlet 
which  one  of  the  clergy  wrote  on  the  oceafion,  and 
figned  M.  S. 

What  it  Is  that  Mr.  Burn  alludes  to,  when  he  fays 
that  1  degraded  my  great  talents,  I  believe  it  will  not 
be  very  eafy  for  any  perfon,  acquainted  with  the  fadts, 
to  conjecture.  Flad  I,  as  Mr.  Curtis  did,  openly 
canvafled  the  fubfcribers  for  the  purpofe  of  getting 
a  committee  to  my  mind,  I  fhould  indeed  have  de- 
graded my  talents,  whether  they  had  been  great  or 
fmall;  but  it  is  well  known  that  all  my  proceed- 
ings were  fair  and  candid.  The  harfiieft  thing  that 
I  faid  of  the  clergy  who  withdrew  from  the  li- 
brary becaufe  my  Uiftory  of  the  Corruptions  of  Chrifi- 
anity  was  voted  into  it,  was  that  their  condu61:  was 
childifli.  Tlie  fubfcribers  feem  to  have  thought  as  I 
did;  for  though  Mr.  Curtis,  in  the  note  he  wrote  on 
the  oceafion,  exprelTed  his  wifh,  "  that  all  the  mem- 
*'  bers  of  the  church  of  England  would  follow  his  ex- 
*'  ample  i"  not  one  of  them,  except  the  clergy,  did  fo. 

Another  childifli  and  paltry  inflance  of  bigotry, 
in  fome  members  of  die  church  of  England  on  that 
oceafion,  was  ftrikiiig  out  die  title  of  Reverend  pre- 
fixed to  Mr.  Scholefield's  name  and  mine  in  the  lift 
of  the  committee.  A  fubfcribcr  found  the  ink  with 
which  the  rafure  had  been  made,  not  quite  dry  j 
and  inquiring  who  had  been  in  the  library,  was  in- 
formed that  only  Mr,  Curtis  and  Mr.  Lloyd,  a 
5  Quaker, 


On  the  Riots  m  Birmingham.  33 

Quaker,  had  been  there.  Being  interrogated  on 
the  fubjecfV,  they  both  denied  having  done  it.  If 
notwithftanding  this,  Mr.  Curtis  was  generally  be- 
lieved to  have  done  it,  the  fault  is  not  mine.  As 
Httle  regard  has  been  paid  to  his  moft  folemn  affe- 
veration  by  Dr.  Parr,  a  brother  clergyman. 

Without  the  leaft  regard  to  truth  Mr.  Burn  fpeaks 
of  me,  p.  21,  as  having  been  "  adopted  the  cham- 
*'  pion  and  leader  of  the  whole  body,"  (viz.  of  Dif- 
fenters),  "  in  the  bufinefs  of  the  application  to  par- 
"  liament  for  the  repeal  of  the  corporation  and  tefl 
"  a6ls ;"  and  he  adds,  that  "  after  organizing  the 
"  whole  body  of  DilTenters,  and  bringing  them  to 
"  aft  as  one  man,  their  future  condud  in  this  affair 
**  was  to  be  governed,  as  unqueftionably  it  has  been, 
"  and  efpecially  in  this,  and  the  neighbouring  coun- 
"  ties,  by  the  maxims  of  his  policy." 

In  all  this  Mr.  Burn  fhews  his  utter  ignorance  of 
this  whole  bufinefs  j  and,  though  he  pays  no  regard 
to  what  I  have  before  faid  on  this  fubjeft,  viz.  that 
I  +iad  very  little  to  do  in  it,  he  Jhould  have  pro- 
cured information  from  fome  other  quarter,  and  have 
mentioned  his  authority.  Of  the  many  letters^  re- 
Joliitionsy  &c.  relating  to  this  affair,  that  were  drawn 
up  at  Birmingham,  I  did  not  write  one.  I  attended 
but  few  of  die  meetings  even  there,  and  though  I 
attended  one  at  Nottingham,  it  was  becaufe  I  had 
bufinefs  of  my  own  in  that  place.  I  aflifted,  in- 
dcedi  in  drawing  up  the  refolutions  tliat  vvere  agreed 

D  Wpoji 


34  -^fi  Appeal  to  the  Public 

upon  there,  but  faid  little  or  nothing  at  the  meeting. 
Indeed,  it  is  well  known  that  I  am  very  backward 
to  fpeak  in  public ;  being,  on  feveral  accounts,  efpc- 
cially  a  tendency  to  Hammering,   unfit  for  public 


On  the  failure  of  this  application  to  parliamenty 
Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  i8,  "  Circumftances  did  arife 
"  which  tended  extremely  to  expofe  the  true  tem- 
"  per  and  views  of  Dr.  Prieftley,  and  to  fmk  him 
"  prodigioufly  in  the  opinion  of  his  townfmen.*'  I 
wifh  Mr.  Burn  had  faid  what  thofe  circumftances 
were,  and  I  now  call  upon  him  to  name  them.  I 
had  no  views  that  were  peculiar  to  mylelf,  or  that 
were  not  common  to  all  DilTentersj  and  what  I  did 
£0  promote  thofe  views  was  nothing  peculiar  to  my- 
felf,  and  lefs  than  was  done  by  many  others  j  not  a 
hundredth  part,  I  may  venture  to  fay,  of  what  was 
done,  and  ably  done,,  by  Mr.  Walker  of  Notdng- 
ham,  not  to  fpeak  of  others.  Indeed,  it  is  well 
known  that  I  was  never  folicitous  about  the  objeft. 
But  it  is  Mr.  Burn's  manner  to  make  general  aiTer- 
tions  without  appealing  to  any  fpecific  fa6ls,  capable 
of  being  fcrutinized. 


'G 


The  difcourfe  which  I  preached  and  publiflied  on 
this  occafion  I  called  "  the  moft  calm  and  mode- 
'*  rate  that  ever  was  v/ritten  on  a  polidcal  fubjed." 
This  Mr.  Burn  does  not  deny;  but  as  nothing  good 
can  come  from  me,  he  gives  it  the  following  turn, 
p.  23.  "  They  perceived,  indeed,  that  his  gird  at  the 

"  minifter 


On  the  Riofs  in  Birmingham.  _^5 

''  minifter  had  taught  him  circumfpcfcion,  and  that 
"  his  wounds  received  in  the  encounter  being 
"  yet  frefh,  he  fought  cautioufly;  but  the  true  de- 
*^  fign  of  this  piece  of  mnnagement  was  too  pal- 
"  pable  to  be  miilaken."  In  this  he  alludes  to  my 
Letter  to  Mr.  Pitty  by  whicii  that  minifter  might 
receive  a  wound,  but  it  will  not  be  eafy  to  find  the 
fears  of  any  that  I  received.  If  I  had  v>'ounds,  they 
did  not  prevent  my  continuing  to  fight  on  (if  j. 
muft  purfue  Mr.  Burn's  metaphor)  and  v/hat  I 
wrote  afterwards  in  my  A?ifwer  to  Mr.  Burke^  and 
my  Familiar  Letters ^  betray  no  diminution  of  vigour 
or  fpirit.  But  that  the  temper  with  which  I  deli- 
vered and  publiflied  that  fermon  was  not  artfully 
aflumed  for  the  occafionj  as  Mr.  Burn  infinuates, 
but  habitual  to  me,  will  appear  from  what  I  wrote 
refpeding  the  fame  fubjedt  in  one  of  the  earlieft  of 
my  publications,  viz.  my  Addrefs  to  P  rot  eft  ant  BiJ- 
Jenters  as  Juchy  a  part  of  which  I  lliall  for  this 
purpofe  infert  in  my  Appendix,  No.  IV. 

Mr.  Burn  would  in  vain  charge  me  with  even 
alluding  to  fafts  that  I  am  not  prepared  to  authen- 
ticate. With  refpe(5l  to  the  report  of  my  convert- 
ing Silas  Dean  to  atheifm,  Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  26, 
"  Will  he  oblige  the  public  with  the  names  of  fome 
"  of  thofe  clergymen  in  the  town  and  neighbour- 
"  hood  by  whom  this  account  was  fo  induftriouily 
"  circulated  ?"  Now  I  doubt  not  Mr.  Burn  knows 
much  more  of  this  bufinefs  than  I  do.  I  will  men- 
D  1  tion. 


^6  u4n  appeal  to  the  Public 

tiorij  however,  that  Mr.  Swainfon  of  Rowley,  anc^  a 
dergyman  dining  at  Stratford,  both  flrongly  recom- 
mended the  pamphlet  in  which  that  ftory  was  pub- 
lifhedi  as  did  Mr.  Curds  at  the  library  room  in 
Birmingham..  The  perfon  who  heard  him  is  ready 
to  atteft  it. 

Let  the  reader  judge  from  thefe  particulars  whe- 
ther I  have  given  a  falfe  account  of  the  temper  of 
the  members  of  the  eftabllfhed  church  in  Birming- 
ham in  general,  or  of  that  of  the  clergy  in  particu- 
lar. It  was  the  extreme  of  bigotry,  the  fame  that 
had  exiiled  In  the  place  long  before  I  went  thither, 
what  I  in  vain  endeavoured  to  allay,  what  exifts 
there  at  prefent  in  as  great  violence  as  ever,  and  will 
I  fear  continue  a  long  time  j  for  it  appears  to  have 
been  gready  inflamed  by  the  late  riot. 


SECTION    IV. 

Of  the  predifpcftng  Caujes  of  the  Riot. 

I  CONSIDER  the  view  that  was  perpe- 
tually exhibited  of  the  DilTenters,  and  efpecially  of  the 
Unitarians  in  general,  and  of  myfelf  in  particular,  by 
the  clergy  of  Birmingham,  and  others  who  occa- 
fionally  preached  in  their  pulpits,  as  a  principal  pre- 
difpofing  caufe  of  the  riot ;  as  they  neceflary  led  the 
people  to  confider  us  as  the  very  pells  of  fociety; 

from 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  37 

from  which  the  wifh,  and  the  endeavour,  to  extermi- 
nate us,  as  fuch,  was  but  too  obvious  and  natural. 
Mr.  Burn,  in  what  I  have  already  quoted  from 
him,  ftrongly  denies  the  fa6l.  But  there  is  evidence 
of  it  nov/  exitting  in  the  printed  fermons  of  Dr. 
Croft  and  Mr.  Madan,  which  are  well  known  to 
have  been  in  the  fame  drain  with  many  others  deli- 
vered in  the  pulpits  at  Birmingham  while  I  refided 
there  J  and  it  will  not  be  fuppofed  that  what  they 
have  printed  was  lets  guarded  than  what  was  not. 

Mr.  Madan,  who  fays  that  his  difcourfe  was  pub- 
lifhed  "  at  the  requeil  of  many  before  whom  it  was 
"  delivered,"  which  is  a  proof  of //&«>  party  fpirit,  as 
well  as  of  hjs  own,  fpeaks  with  particular  appro- 
bation of  the  fermons  of  Dr.  Croft,  and  Mr.  Clut- 
ton  i  the  latter  of  which  he  laments  was  not  printed, 
and  which  I  remember  to  have  heard  fpoken  of  as 
peculiarly  violent;  as  the  fermons  of  Mr.  Curtis 
were  alfo  faid  to  be.  The  reader  may  therefore 
judge  of  the  inflammatory  tendency  of  thefe  fermons 
of  the  clergy  in  general,  by  the  following  extradVs 
from  thofe  of  Dr.  Croft  and  Mr.  Madan, 

They  both  agree  in  reprefenting  the  principles  of 
the  DilTenters  as  "  unqueftionably  republican." 
"  Thofe  of  the  Socinians,"  which  Mr.  Madan  fpeaks 
of  as  evidently  gaining  ground,  he  fays,  p.  10, 
*'  are  certainly  no  lefs  dangerous  to  the  ftate  than 
♦*  tlae  tenets  of  popery."    Both  thefe  preachers  re- 

D  3  prefent 


3  8  Jn  Appeal  to  the  Public  , 

prefent  our  principles  as  not  only  theoretically,  but 
praftically  fedkious.  Of  the  fentiments  of  Dr.  Price, 
Dr.  Crofc  fays,  p.  xii.  "  They  fpread  jealoufy  and 
"  difcontent  through  the  kingdom,  and  were  little 
"  fhort  of  blafphemy.  The  Difienters,"  he  fays, 
p.  33,  "  wifh  to  deftroy  the  whole  fabric  of  our 
"  conftitution."  Mr.  Madan  alfo  reprcfents  us  as 
no  better  than  king  killers  in  general.  "  Is  there  no 
"  reafon,"  he  fays,  p.  13,  "  to  receive  with  fufpi- 
f'  cion  their  declarations  of  reverence  to  the  govern- 
"  ment,  and  of  loyalty  to  the  king,  however  plau- 
"  fibly  and  fpontaneoufly  announced,  v/hen  the 
"  amount  of  that  reverence  has  been  exaflly  afcer- 
"  tained  by  the  v/oful  experience  of  republican  ty- 
"  ranny,  and  the  extent  of  their  loyalty  has  been  ex- 
"  a6lly  delineated  by  the  blood  of  a  king."  He 
alfo  fays,  p.  8,  that  he  "  always  regarded  our  prin- 
^*  ciples  as  pointedly"  hoftile,  and  dangerous  to  our 
5'  happy  conftitution." 

When  he  was  called  upon  by  me  to  defend  thefe 
ftrange  and  injurious  afperfions,  which  are  in  con- 
tradicflion  to  all  hiftory,  and  even  to  recent  fadls, 
and  efpeciaily  to  all  my  principles,  as  contained  in 
my  v/ritingsi  he  appeared  willing,  indeed,  to  except 
from  his  charges  the  more  moderate,  or  Calviniflic 
Difienters,  but  by  no  m.eans  myfelf,  and  others  whom 
he  terms  "  the  more  violent  Diffentersj"  and  in 
vindication  of  what  he  had  advanced  concerning  the 
Jcing  killing  principles  being  ftill  retained  by  the 

DiffenterSj 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  3  9 

DIflcntcrs,  he  fays,  p.  35,  that  "  principles  are  a 
*'  long  lived  generation  j"  and  infinuates  that  there- 
fore, they  muft  now  exift  fomewhere  among  us. 
"  Thefe  principles,"  he  fays,  p.  22,  "  are  ftill  at 
*'  work."  When  I  appealed  to  my  own  peaceable 
behaviour,  he  replied,  p.  16,  that  "  Guy  Fawkes 
*'  would  have  done  the  fame;"  plainly  fuggelting  9 
comparifon  between  him  and  me. 

Both  Dn  Croft  and  Mr.  Madan  reprefent  in  a 
moft  extravagant  light  the  very  innocent  objeft  of 
the  application  of  the  DiiTenters  to  parliament  for 
the  repeal  of  the  corporation  and  teft  a6ls,  and  they 
intimate,  that  fo  far  from  giving  us  more  liberty,  it 
were  to  be  wilhed  that  we  could  be  deprived  of 
fome  of  the  privileges  that  we  now  enjoy.     Mr, 
Madan  alarms  the  public  by  calling  the  bufinefs  of 
this    application    a    "  great   conllitutional    caufe." 
The  poflefllon  of  offices,  which  we  plead  our  right 
to  a  participation  in,  he  fays,  p.  1 2,  would  be  "  in- 
*'  compatible  with  the  fafety  of  our  civil  govern- 
*'  menti"  and  he  fpeaks  of  our  third  application  as 
"  an  extraordinary  fubjed:,  now  a  third  time  obr- 
*'  truded  upon  the  legiflature." 

-  Dr.  Croft  fays,  p.  36,  "  It  would  be  fatal  to  reli- 
**  gion,  if  the  legifiature  Ihould  by  any  act  of  indul- 
"  gence  declare  all  opinions  innocent.  It  is  unfor- 
"  tunate,"  he  fays,  p.  xiv.  "  that  the  right  of  vot? 
^*  ing  at  elections,  and  of  fitting  in  parliament,  can- 

D  4  *♦  not 


4-0  Jn  Appeal  to  the  Public 

"  not  be  taken  from  the  Diffenters.  It  would  be 
*•  defirable,"  p.  30,  "  to  exclude  from  the  Britlfh 
*'  fenate  all  thofe  who  are  led  away  by  their  plaufible 
*^  arguments,  and  to  caution  every  Britifh  youth 
*'  againft  their  civil  and  religious  maxims  of  go- 
*'  vernment."  He  particularly  fays,  p.  xi.  that 
*'  if  the  Unitarians  were  reflridbed  from  fpeaking  in- 
*^  decently  of  the  do6trine  of  the  Trinity,  and  if  they 
"  were  enjoined  upon  certain  pains  and  penakies,  it 
*'  might  be  deemed  perfecution  by  them,  but  could 
"  not  be  thought  a  hardlhip  by  others."  Mr.  Ma- 
dan  alfo  fays,  p.  9,  "  Are  we  not  juftly  upbraided 
"  with  a  pafTive  and  fupine  condudl,  in  a  caufe  of 
**  the  moft  interelling  and  facred  nature  ?" 

Of  my  own  chara6ler  nothing  more  injurious 
could  be  infmuated  than  was  done  by  Mr.  Madan. 
He  defcribes  me  as  a  man  of  extraordinary  talents, 
indeed,  but  as  a6tuated  by  malevolence \  and  how  elfe 
would  he  have  defcribed  Satan  himfelf?  "  When 
"  I  fee,"  he  fays,  p.  26,  '*  your  blindnefs  in^  any 
"  point  of  hillory,  I  much  fufpeft  it  to  be  wilfuli" 
v/hich  is  to  reprefent  the  worft  principle  of  my 
condudl  as,  in  all  cafes,  more  probable  than  any 
other.  What  mud  the  inhabitants  of  Birming- 
ham., v,ho  juftly  refpecflied  Mr.  Madan  more  thar^ 
any  other  clergyman  in  the  town,  think  of  the  Dif-^ 
fenters  in  general,  and  of  myfelf  in  pardcular,  when 
we  were  defcribed  in  this  manner,  and  when  the  ac- 
count was  introduced  vvi,d)  fuch  uncommon  folemnit}^ 


On  the  Riots  In  Birmingham,  41 

p.  2,  as  given  "  from  the  fettled  principles  of  his 
«*^  heart,  as  he  hoped  for  mercy  from  the  God  of 
«  truth?" 


To  what  can  we  compare  this  condiid  of  the 
clergy,  but  (to  adopt  that  metaphor  of  mine  which 
has  been  lb  much  carped  at,  and  mifreprefented,) 
laying  gunpowder,  not  grain  by  grain,  but  by  hand- 
fuls,  in  that  magazine  which  exploded  on  the  T4th 
of  July?  For  what  outrage  muft  not  many  of  the 
common  people,  who  read  none  of  my  writings,  but 
heard  them  fpoken  of  by  the  clergy  as  highly  dan- 
gerous, and  unfit  to  be  read  by  them,  have  been 
prepared,  when  for  years  together  they  heard  the 
Unitarian  DilTenters  in  general,  and  myfelf  in  parti- 
cular, pointed  at  as  the  enemies  of  their  country, 
ready  on  the  firft  opportunity  to  overturn  the  govern- 
ment under  which  we  lived,  and  even  to  embrue 
our  hands  in  the  blood  of  our  fovereign  ?  Could 
they  help  concluding  that  the  perfons  who  defcribed 
us  in  this  manner  wifhed  to  have  us  deftroyed,  that 
it  was  even  meritorious  to  deftroy  us  j  and  when  in 
any  cafe  the  ejid  is  thought  to  be  juft  in  itfel^  the 
propriety  of  the  means  will  be  lefs  attended  to  ?  If 
violence  be  employed  to  gain  any  end,  there  are 
thoufands  in  all  parts  of  this  country  ready  to  join  in 
it,  without  any  regard  to  the  end,  but  merely  for 
the  fake  of  mifchief  and  plunder.  It  is  an  army 
ready  to  ad  on  the  fide  of  any  whom  they  think 
they  can  ferve  with  impunity  to  themfelves. 

3  It 


42  J^7t  Appeal  to  the  Public 

it  is,  therefore,  in  this  {tnk,  though  in  this  only, 
that  I  accufe  the  clergy  of  Birmingham,  and  efpe- 
cially  Mr.-  Madan,  as  having  been  the  promoters  of 
the  riot ;  and  if  it  Ihould  terminate  in  that  deftruc- 
tion  with  which  I  am  Hill  threatened,  I  fhall  charge 
them  with  being  the  caufe  of  my  death. 

The  methods  that  were  taken  to  excite  the  po- 
pulace of  Birmingham  againft  the  Diffenters,  pre- 
vious to  the  riot,  were  various,  and  but  too  fucceff- 
ful.  Among  others,  I  fhall  only  mention  one,  as  a 
fpecimen  of  ingenuity  as  well  as  of  the  malignant  party 
fpirit,  which  prevailed  in  the  place,  while  nothing 
was  done  by  us  but  what  was  calculated  to  allay  it. 
The  following  paper  was  much  circulated  in  Bir^ 
jningham  two  years  before  the  riot. 

"  To  thofe  faftious  and  republican  fpirits,  who 
*'  are  at  this  time  infidioufly  endeavouring  to  un- 
**  dermine  the  grand  bulwark  of  our  moft  excellent 
^*"  conftitution,  a  plate  of  their  Ccat  of  Arms  is  de- 
**  dicated,  by  a  friend  to  church  and  king. 

"  Blazoning  of  the  DUfenters  Coat  of  Arms. 

"  Field  fable.  A  diffenting  magiftrate  fits  with 
^^  a  table  before  him,  holding  in  his  right  hand  a 
''  pen,  in  his  left  hand  a  ferpent.  On  his  fhoulder 
"  fits  a  toad  didating  to  him.  Over  his  head  is  a 
?'  pair  of  fcales  broken,  Or  within,  and  argent.  One 
8  ^<  hornet 


On  the  Rwfs  in  Birmingham*  4j 

'^  hornet  and  fix  wafps,  reprefenting  the  feven  united 
"  congregations.  Creft,  the  head  of  Janus,  party 
*'  per  pale,  fable,  and  or,  before  a  thorn  and  a  thiftle, 
"  ilTuing  proper.    Motto.  To  him  we  owe  our  -power, 

"  Supporters,^* 
"  Fraud  reprefented  with  the  body  of  a  woman, 
"  with  a  double  face  young  and  old,  prefenting  the 
"  moft  fafcinating  to  the  unwary  objefts  her  prey. 
*^  Her  attributes  are  an  angle  rod,  with  a  fifh  caught, 
^'  and  in  her  left  a  feipent.  She  is  always  defcribed 
*'  wiih  the  legs  and  claws  of  a  vulture,  and  the  tail 
"  cf  a  fcorpion.  Deceit  is  reprefented  by  an  elder- 
*'  ly  matron  gayly  drefled,  holds  a  mafk  before  her 
'^  face,  and  on  her  breaft  two  hearts,  black  and  red, 
'^  denoting  the  necelTity  of  an  external  appearance 
"  to  cover  the  defigns  of  a  corrupt  mind." 

N.  B.   There  is  fome  incorredlnefs  in  this  copyj 
but  I  have  not  feen  any  other. 

SECTION    V. 

Circimjlances  previous   to  the  Riot,  and  more  imme- 
diately conneEled  with  the  Cauje  of  it. 

OEVERAL  circumftances,  previous  to 
the  riot,  fhow  that  fome  fuch  thing  was  ex- 
pert ed  by  the  High  Church  party,  while  no  Dif- 
fenter,  though  expofed  to  the  mifchief,  apprehended 
any  fuch  matter.  A  clergyman  dining  at  the  An- 
chor, at  Worcefter,  July  13,  faid  that,  "  If  there  wa§ 

"  any 


44  ^■^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

"•■  any  dinner  at  Birmingham  the  next  day,  fortK?* 

"  thing  would  fhew  itfelf  at  night,  and  that  it  was 

"  then  brewing."    A  perfon  of  Birmingham  laid, 

"  there  will  be  the  devil  to  pay  at  the  Hotel  to 

"  day.    There    are  about  two  hundred  Prefbyte- 

*'  rians  met  there,  but  we  are  ready  for  them,  and 

"  fhall  be  their  mailers  yet." 

Mr.  Burn  reprefents  the  dinner  at  the  Hotel,  and 
the  hand-bill,  publilhed  a  few  days  before,  as  the  true 
caufes  of  the  riot.  "  The  promoters  of  the  dinner," 
he  fays,  p.  51,  "  were  chiefly  DilTenters  j  and  as  the 
"  defign  of  that  meeting  was  ftrongly  fufpe(5led, 
"  thofe  gentlemen  became  the  object  of  popular  re- 
"  fentment."  But  that  both  the  dinner  and  the  hand- 
bill, were  the  mere  pretences  for  the  violences  that 
were  committed,  is  evident  from  the  cry  of  the 
time,  which  had  no  relation  to  the  dinner.  Had  the 
fufferers  been  obnoxious  as  having  been  concerned 
in  the  dinner,  thofc  of  the  church  of  England,  who 
ioined  in  it,  would  have  been  doubly  fo,  as  men  who 
had  deferted  their  friends,  and  joined  their  enemies  j 
but  no  member  of  the  ellablilhment,  though  prefent 
at  the  dinner,  fuffered  at  all ;  and  the  only  fufferers 
v/ere  that  very  defcription  of  men  againll  whom  the 
popular  refcntmcnt  had  been  excited  feveral  years 
before,  viz.  the  Unitarian  DilTenters  in  general,  and 
myfelf  in  particular,  whether  we  were  prefent  at  the 
dinner,  or  concerned  in  promoting  it,  or  not. 


Of 


On  the  Riots  In  Birmingham,  45 

Of  the  principal  fufferers,  who  were  ten  in  all. 
Only  three  were  at  the  dinner,  and  their  houfes  were 
the  iaft  that  were  deftroyed.  On  thefe  ftriking  fa<5ts 
no  comment  favourable  to  Mr.  Burn's  hypothefis 
can  be  made. 

Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  52,  that  "  the  effeft  which  the 
*'  hand- bill  might  produce  on  the  lower  orders, 
"  was  very  juftly  and  ferioufly  apprehended."  Now 
it  is  to  the  Iaft  degree  improbable  that  any  ferious 
cffed  was  ever  apprehended  from  it.  All  that  it 
invited  to  was  the  celebration  of  the  French  Revo- 
lutioni  yet  he  ftrangely  fays,  p.  47,  "  The  objed  of  it 
**  was,  in  the  apprehenfion  of  the  populace,  nothing 
"  lefs  than  the  immediate  overthrow  both  of  Church 
"  and  State."  This  famous  hand-bill  is  ftill  extant, 
and  has  been  publifhed  a  thoufand  times  more  by  the 
enemies  of  the  Diffenters  than  by  their  friends  -,  and 
if  it  had  really  been  calculated  to  do  much  mifchiefj 
it  muft  have  appeared  long  before  this  time. 

At  any  time  before  the  riot  it  was  exceedingly 
difficult  for  any  Diffenter  to  procure  a  copy  of  the 
hand- bill,  while  it  was  circulated  with  great  induftry 
among  church  people.  If  the  magiftrates  really  ap- 
prehended a  riot  from  the  effeds,  either  of  the 
hand-bill,  which  few  DifTenters  had  feen,  or  from  the 
dinner,  which,  however,  few  propofed  to  attend,  why 
did  they  not  prepare  to  oppofe  ic  by  fwearing  more 

conftables. 


4-6  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

conftables,  and  ufing  other  precautions  direded  in 
the  Riot  Att  ? 

If  the  governors  of  this  country  had  really  thought 
this  hand-bill  capable  of  doing  any  harm,  would 
they  not  have  fent  foldiers  to  Birmingham,  to  be  in 
readincfs  fcr  the  occafion  ?  A  copy  of  the  hand-bill 
was  in  the  fecretary  of  ftate's  office  three  days  be- 
fore the  dinner,  and  that  was  time  enough  for  the 
purpofe.  Would  it  have  been  publifhed  at  full  length 
in  the  Gazette  ?  Or  would  Mr.  Dundas  have  recited 
it  in  the  Houfe  of  Commons  ?  This  publication, 
and  many  other  publications  of  it,  clearly  Ihews  that 
no  body  ever  apprehended  any  danger  from  it,  and 
that  the  flir  that  was  made  about  it  was  only  to 
throw  an  odium  upon  DifTenters,  who  were  repre- 
prefented  as  the  authors  of  it. 

A  letter  of  Dr.  Tatham's,  in  which  the  anniverfary 
of  the  French  Revolution  was  called  an  illegal,  and 
unconftitiitional  Cif^  and  which  was  eagerly  circulated 
in  Birmingham  before  the  dinner,  contributed  much 
more  to  the  riot  than  this  hand- bill. 

The  fufpicion  of  the  fabrication  of  this  hand^ 
bill  has  now  generally  fallen  upon  the  perfon  alluded 
to  by  Mr.  Burn  and  Mr.  Dundas.  It  is  well  known 
to  ail  our  friends  that  I  had  no  connexion  with  that 
perfon,  and  that  he  was  leaft  of  all  likely  to  be  go- 
verned 


On  the  Riots  in  Bii'iningham,  47 

verned  by  my  advice.  This,  however,  I  will  fay  for 
him,  that  though  he  thought  freely  on  the  fubjedls 
of  government  and  religion,  he  was  as  far  from  any 
thing  properly  feditious  as  Mr.  Burn  himfelf.  I  be- 
lieve him  to  be  an  honeft  and  well  meaning  man, 
though  I  never  thought  him  the  moft  prudent.  It 
is  to  the  difgrace  of  this  country  that  fuch  a  perfoa 
was  under  the  neceffity  of  leaving  it. 

At  the  time  of  my  writing  the  Appeal,  I  had  not 
the  lead  fufpicion  of  this  pcrfon  being  the  author 
of  the  hand-bill,  and,  therefore,  thought  it  as  pro- 
bable that  it  might  be  written  by  fome  of  the  High 
Church  party,  for  the  v&.  that  they  adually  made  of 
it,  as  by  the  DiiTenters  who  Hiffered  in  confequence 
of  it.  And  certainly,  they  who  forged  letters  for  the 
purpofe  of  exciting  the  rioters  to  do  us  mifchief^ 
werew^^^^i'/^  of  doing  this  with  the  fame  view.  The 
one  was  not  more  wicked  than  the  other.  Ad- 
mitting, however,  that  a  Differter  wrote  this  cele- 
bmted  hand-bill,  and  that  it  was  as  heinous  a  thing 
as  our  enemies  reprefent  it;  it  was  only  the  work  of 
one  man,  for  whofe  condu6l  no  other  perfcn  is  re- 
fponfible.  No  perfon  concerned  in  the  dinner  had 
the  lead  knowledge  or  fufpicion  of  it  at  the  time,  as 
appears  by  their  public  advertifement. 

Depending  upon  fuch  accounts  as  were  given  me, 

with  relpecl  to  tranfaclions  at  which  I  could  not  be 

,  prelent  myfelf,  I  had  faid  that,  befides  the  dinner  at 

the 


4$  An  A f peal  to  the  Puhlic 

the  Hotel,  there  were  other  dinners  on  that  day,  6f 
perlbns  of  better  condition,  who  did  not  rife  fo  foon, 
or  fo  fober,  as  thofe  who  celebrated  the  French  Re* 
volution,  and  that  the  riot  commenced  at  the  break- 
ing up  of  thefe  companies.  "  This,"  fays  Mr.  Burn, 
p.  58,  "  is,  to  fay  the  leaft,  an  idle  fidlion."  "  The 
"  magiftrates,"  he  fays,  59,  "  dined  at  one  of  our 
"  inns  on  that  day,  and  for  the  exprefs  purpofe  of  be- 
"  ing  on  the  fpot,  in  cafe  their  interference  fhould 
•*  be  found  neceflary,  in  order  to  keep  the  peace." 

Now  I  do  not  find,  on  farther  inquiry,  that 
there  was  more  than  one  fuch  dinner  as  I  have  de- 
fcribed,  viz.  oi-perjons  of  better  condition^  the  refl  being 
of  the  lower  orders,  though  not  all  of  the  loweft, 
whofe  aflembling,  whofe  horrid  execrations,  and 
whofe  intoxication,  Mr.  Burn  cannot  deny.  But  that 
the  other  dinner,  though  attended  by  the  magiftrates, 
anfv/ers  fufficiendy  to  my  defcription^  there  is  evi- 
dence enough. 

The  High  Church  party  who  dined  at  the  Swan 
tavern  in  Bull-ftreet,  if  1  be  not  mifinformed,  ufed 
the  moil  horrid  execrations,  drank  damnation  to  the 
Prelbyterians,  and  prophefied  what  dreadful  havoc 
would  be  made.  A  perfon  who  heard  this  perfuaded 
thofe  who  dined  at  the  Hotel  to  difperfci  and  then  re- 
turning to  the  company  at  the  Swan,  faid,  "  Gende- 
"  men,  your  fport  is  fpoiled,  the  company  is  breaking 
«  upi"  and  this  feemed  to  mortify  them  exceedingly.. 

That 


Oh  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  49 

That  the  magiflrates  themfelves,  and  no  doubt 
other  perfons  of  their  party,  were  either  intoxicated, 
or  worfe,  at  the  breaking  up  of  this  meeting,  the 
fads  I  fhall  prefendy  relate  abundantly  prove.  I§ 
they  ferioufly  meant  to  keep  the  peace,  their  meafure;, 
were  very  ill  laid,  and  certainly  had  no  fuccefs.  To 
ipretend  that  they  feared  a  riot  from  the  friends  of 
the  revolution  dinner  is  too  abfurd  to  be  alleged. 
They  were  not  of  that  clafs  of  people;  and  there 
was  no  dinner,  or  preparations  for  any  dinner,  ex- 
cept at  the  hotel. 

A  mono;  odier  circumflances  diat  Indicated  a 
defign  in  the.  High  Church  party  to  promote  a 
not,  I  mentioned  a  report  of  fome  fliops  being 
fhut  up,  that  the  workmen  might  be  at  liberty  for 
that  purpofe.  Of  this  Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  51,  "  If 
"  any  inftance  of  the  kind  does  really  exifb,  it  has 
*^  eluded  our  refearch."  He  adds,  that  "  many 
"  churchmen  took  pains  to  keep  their  men  in  the 
*^  fhops."  Of  this  I  have  no  doubt.  The  generality 
of  the  Church  people  in  Birmingham  were  far 
from  favouring  the  rioters,  nor  have  I  ever  given 
that  idea  of  them.  The  promoters  of  the  riot  were 
a  few,  but  certainly  all  of  them  churchmen. 

The  flate  of  the  town  of  Birmingham  is  fliil  fuch 
that  it  is  not  eafy  to  procure  pofitive  evidence 
againft  any  rioter,  or  favourer  of  the  riot;  nor  can 
it  be  deemed  extraordinary  that  I  (hould  in  fome 

E  inftances 


50  ■   An  Appeal  to  the  Puhlk- 

inflances  have  been  mifled  by  the  exaggerated  r^*^ 
ports  of  the  time,  when  I  wrote  my  Appeal.  "Whe^ 
ther,  however,  I  wr»te  without  Jome  authority,  let 
the  reader  judge  fronri  the  following  circiimft:ances. 
Mr.  RulTel  remonftrating  with  one  of  the  rioters  at 
his  own  houfe,  he  faid,  "  What  would  you  have  us 
*'  do  ?  We  cannot  work,  for  our  mailers  turned  us 
^\  out  of  the  Hicp  on  Thurfday  morning,  and  de-^ 
**■  dared  we  fhould  not  enter  it  again  all  the  week." 
The  name  of  the  man  was  Patric,  and  he  faid  his 
mailer  v/as  a  buckle-maker. 

It  Is  pofTible  alfo,  that  the  Diffencers  might  get 
the  idea  of  the  perfons  excluded  from  the  fliops  being 
more  numerous  than  they  were,  from  the  following 
circumftance,  viz.  that  a  little  after  nine  o'clock,  on 
the  14th  of  July,  Mr.  Carles,  after  faying  to  the  riot- 
ers, "  Come,  my  boys,  huzza,"  added,  "  if  they  turn 
"  you  out  of  work,  I  will  employ  you."  AVhat  he 
meant  by  that  language  he  beft  knows  himfclf.  It- 
is,  I  own,  niore  probable  that  his  meaning  was,  that 
if  the  Diffenters  fnould  turn  any  perfons  out  of  theiF 
fliops  for  having  been  concerned  in  the  riot,  he 
would  endeavour  to  find  employment  for  them. 

That  too  many,  though  far  from  the  majority  of 
the  church  people  in  Birmingham,  favoured  the 
riot,  and  did  as  much  to  promote  it  as  the  fhntting 
Tjp  their  fhops,  though,  diey  might  not  do  that  fpeci- 
fic  thiig>  is  fuiEciently  evident 5  and  dierefore  this 

could 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  5 1 

tould  not  of  itfdlf  appear  improbable;  and  that 
great  numbers  of  the  common  manufa6turers  were 
v/ell  enough  predifpofed  for  the  riot  is  evident  from 
the  following  circumftance.  On  the  13  th  of  July  a 
churchman  talking  about  the  intended  dinner,  faid, 
"  I  have  got  fifty  hands  in  my  Ihop,  and  if  I  was  to 
'  "  go  to  them  to-morrow,  and  fay.  My  lads,  your 
"  church  and  king  are  in  danger,  they  would  turn 
"  out  every  man  of  them,  and  break  every  window 
"  in  the  hotel." 

Another  circumftance  that  I  fhall  mention  is  one 
that  I  own  I  do  not  perfectly  underftand  j  but  as  it 
has  been  mentioned  as  fome  evidence  that  even 
Mr.  Curtis  himfelf  expected  a  riot,  that  in  it  re- 
courfe  would  be  had  to  fire,  and  that  he  did  not 
wifli  fuch  fire  to  be  foon  extinguilhed,  I  fhall  relate 
it,  that  Mr.  Curtis  may  have  an  opportunity  of  ex- 
culpating himfelf. 

The  keys  of  the  fire  engine  were  taken  by  him  out 
cf  the  cuftody  of  the  perlbn  who  ufually  kept  them, 
and  delivered  to  a  Mr.  Brooke,  a  clerk  in  his  own 
church,  who,  when  he  was  applied  to  for  them,  as 
the  rioters  were  demolifliing  the  old  meeting,  faid, 
that  he  had  orders  to  let  nobody  have  them.  At 
length,  however,  an  order  was  procured  from  the 
churchwarden,  who  expreflcd  much  furprife  that 
this  fhould  be  neceflary;  when  Mr.  Brooke  (find- 
ing  that  he  could  not  refufe  them)  find,  "  If  you 
E  3  ^*  muft 


52  An  Appeal  to  the  'Public 

"  rnuil:  have  them,  you  fliall,  but  they  will  do  yoi3 
"  no  goodi"  which  v/as  aClually  the  cafe,  the  en- 
gine not  being  fuftered   to  play  on   any  but   the 


neishbourino;  houf 


o 


What  makes  this  ftory  the  more  extraordinary"  ■ 
is,  that  it  appears  from  Mr.  Curtis's  own  account 
that,  in  the  coul-fe  of  that  night,  the  clerk  went 
to  the  veilry,  and  there  wrote  a  letter,  which 
he  fent  by  a  fpecial  meffenger  to  Mr.  Curtis, 
to  inform  him  that,  at  the  order  of  the  church- 
warden, lie  had  delivered  the  keys  of  the  engine. 
Does  not  this  look  like  anxiety  to  make  an  apology 
for  having  done  what  he  knew  would  not  be  pleaf- 
ing  to  his  fuperior?  It  behoves  Mr.  Curtis  to  ex- 
plain this  extraordinary  conduct  with  refped  to  the 
fire  engine,  with  which  it  does  not  appear  that  he 
had  any  thing  to  do. 

That  fomething  was  concerted  by  the  High 
Church  with  refped  to  the  Diflenters  previous  x.<y 
the  dinner  is  evident  from-  this  circumftancc,  that 
a  DiHenter,  but  not  known  to  be  one  by  Mr.  J. 
Green,  a  bufy  and  not  very  difcreet  man,  going  tO' 
him  about  bufmefs  the  day  before  the  riot,  received 
for  anfwer,  "  I  have  not  time  to  fettle  your  account 
"  now,  the  damned  Frefbyterians  give  me  fo  much 
^^  trouble.  There  are  gentlemen  now  at  my  houfe 
«  confuking  v/hat  is  to  be  done  with  them."' 

&ECTI0JI' 


'^  On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  5^ 

SECTION    VL 

Circumjlances  attending  the  Conmencemsnt  of  the  RtoL 

1  SHALL  now  proceed  to  relate  feme 
iclrcumilances  which  immediately  precededj  and  ac- 
companied the  riot,  at  its  firft  breaking  out ;  and  I 
think  they  will  fuffidently  prove  not  only  that  there 
was  no  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  magiftrates,  or 
any  of  the  principal  church  people  in  the  town,  to 
prevent  the  riot  j   but  that,  not  then  knowing  how 
far  it  Vv'ould  proceed,  many  of  them  were  well-wifliers 
to  it.    I  may,  no  doubt,  be  deceived;  but  all  the  par- 
ticulars that  I  lliall  mention  have  been  voluntarily 
declared  upon  oath,  and  the  reporters  are  now  ready 
to  atteft   them  in  any  court  of  judicature,  when- 
ever they  are  called  upon  to  do  it.     However,  let 
our    enemies   have   an  opportunity  of  vindicating 
themfelves :  they  have  the  fame  accefs  to  the  Public 
that  I  have,  and  will  have  a  much  more  favourable 
hearing. 

When  the  company  were  going  to  rhe  hotel,  and 
the  mob  were  throwing  at  them,  the  juftices,  who 
were  prefent,  took  no  notice  of  it,  and  did  not 
endeavour  to  difperfe  them.  Between  liven  and 
eight  o'clock  Mr.  Carles  and  Dr.  Spencer  were  in 
the  midft  of  the  mob,  in  paffing  from  the  hotel  to- 
E  3  wards 


54  -^^z  Appeal  to  the  Public 

wards  Buil-ilreet,  and  Teemed  to  encourage  them 
by  bowing  and  nodding  to  them.  When  fomeof  the 
mob  came  out  of  the  hotel,  where  they  had  been  to, 
look  for  thofe  who  had  dined  there,  one  of  the  ma- 
giftrates,  ftanding  upon  the  fleps,  took  off  his 
hat,  waved  it  round  his  head,  and  huzza'd  with 
tliem,  but  made  no  attempt  to  check  them  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  while  the  witnefs  was  with 
them.  When  one  of  them  was  haranguing  the  mob 
on  the  fteps  of  the  hotel,  the  other  flood  behind 
him,  laughing  heartily,  and  hiding  his  face  with  hi§ 
hat. 

When  the  windows  of  the  hotel  v^ere  nearly  de- 
molifhed,  one  of  the  juftices  cried,  "  Well  done,  my 
*'  lads,  well  done,  my  lads.  We  will  do  what  we 
*'  can  for  you^  and  if  I  had  it  in  my  power  I  would 
"  make  you  all  drunk,"  A  little  after  nine  he  faid 
to  the  mob,  "  Do  no  mifchief,  or  murder;  and  if 
'^  you  are  taken  up  in  a  right  caufe,  and  brought 
"  before  us,  we  will  acquit  you :"  and  he  lliook 
hands  with  feveral  of  them.  One  of  the  rioters  afked 
the  juftices,  if  they  w^ould  give  them  leave  to  fhake 
a  little  powder  out  of  Dr.  Prieftlcy's  wig :  and  to 
this  they  made  no  anfwer,  but  laughed,  took  off 
their  hats,  v/aved  them  three  times,  and  huzza'd. 
One  of  them  faid,  again  "  You  are  all  hearty  i(:\~ 
*f  lows;  if  I  had  it  in  my  power  I  would  make  yo» 
"  all  drunk."  A  boy  faying,  "  Damn  them,  fei?e 
«'  all  the  Prefbyteri-ins/'  one  of  diem  put  his  hand 

oi\ 


t)n  the  Riots  in  'Birmingham.  ^$ 

on  tlie  boy's  head,  and  faid,  "  Well  done,  my  hearty 
"  chicken:  thou  art  a  damned  good  cockj"  and 
laughed.  The  mob  lauglied  with  him,  and  huzza'd, 

crying,  Spencer  for  ever^ 

The  mofl:  ferious  charge  agalnfl:  one  of  the  ma- 
giftrates  is  the  following:  while  the  rioters  were 
throwing  at  the  windows  of  the  hotel,  he  faid,  "  My 
"  friends,  do  not  revenge  yourfelves  upon  this  man, 
"  who  gets  his  living  by  making  dinners  for  gen- 
"  tlemen.  If  you  wifli  to  be  revenged  upon  them, 
"  go  to  their  meetings."  On  this  the  mob  cried, 
"  To  the  new  meeting;  the  juftice  will  protect  us." 
They  were  fo  near  him,  that  he  mud  have  heard 
them.  A  young  man  of  my  congregation  told  me 
before  I  left  my  houfe,  that  he  was  Handing  clofe  by 
one  of  the  magiftrates  when  the  rioters  mentioned 
going  to  the  new  meeting,  and  that  he  faid  nothing 
to  reflrain  them, 

While  the  fame  magiftrate  was  walking  up  Bull-, 
ftreet  fome  of  the  rioters  follovycd  him,  and  among 
them  was  a  v/oman,  who  cried,  "  Damn  all  the 
"  Prefbyterians  in  the  town ;"  but  at  this  the  ma- 
giftrate  only  laughed.  Being  incommoded  by  thq. 
crowd,  one  of  the  juftice^  bid  them  not  follow  him. 
On  this  they  cried,  *^  Where  muft  we  go?"  He  an- 
fwered,  "  Go  down  to  the  meeting  to  the  others."- 
They  then  went  to  the  new  meeting,  and  joined 
l^|\o,le  who  were  deftroying  it.  lie  alio  laid  to  them 
E  /J,  ag. 


^6  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

at  the  fame  time,  "  Do  no  other  mifchief  than  pul-. 
"  ling  down  the  meetings,  and  I  will  ftand  your 
"  friend  as  far  as  lies  in  my  power."  Afterwards, 
when  one  of  the  rioters,  who  was  demolifliing  the 
new  meedng,  was  told  that  he  would  be  hanged  for 
it,  he  faid,  *^  No  y  for  juftice  Carles  fent  us  dov/n 
"  hither." 

"  It  is  but  juftice,"  fays  Mr.  Burn,  p.  121,  "  to 
"  Mr.  Brooke,  at  that  time  under  flieriQ',  a6ling 
^'  with  the  m.agiftratcs,  and  fince  deputed  by  the 
"  hundred  as  their  fole  folicitor  on  the  trials,  to  ob- 
"  ferve,  that  no  individual  appears  to  have  riflved 
"  more  by  his  perfonal  exertions  during  the  riots 
"  than  himfclf."     I  have  no  objedion  to  admitting 
this  with  refpecl  to  Mr.  Brooke,  or  any  other  per- 
fon,  after  the  riot  had  proceeded  farther  than  they 
wiflied,  in  confequepce  of  which  they  might  think 
they  had  particular  reafon  to  be  apprehenfive  for 
themfelves ;  but  the  queftion  is,  how  they  behaved 
at  the  commencement  of  the  riot ;  and  at  that  time 
there  is  clear  evidence   of  feveral  perfons  having 
given  them  too  much  encouragement. 

The  mob  being  afiembled  before  Mr.  Brooke's 
houfe,  which  is  very  near  the  hotel,  a  perfon  in  a 
green  coat  addrefled  them  in  a  low  voice,  defiring 
;hem  to  go  from  thence,  and  faying,  that  if  they 
would  go  to  the  new  meeting,  he  would  order  a 
joglhead  of  ale  for  them  when  they  came  back.  They 

ail-zing 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  57 

sfking  him  for  fomething  in  handj  he  appeared  to  give 
them  money,  having  put  his  hand  into  his  pock- 
et. Of  this  circumftance  there  are  two  witnefles. 
But  previous  to  this  he  aiked  a  young  man  who 
Was  in  the  crowd,  whether  he  thought  they  knevy 
him.  He  then  held  up  his  arm,  and  pointed  to-r 
wards  the  new  meeting,  and  they  immediately  cried, 
*'  To  the  new  meetings"  whither  they  went,  and 
in  five  minutes  few  were  left  behind.  Before  this, 
v/hen  the  mob  were  breaking  the  v/indows  of  the 
hotel,  Mr.  Brooke  came  out  of  his  houfe,  and  Mrs. 
Brooke  being  apprehenfive  of  fome  mifchief  to  him, 
the  rioters  faid,  '*"  We  will  not  hurt  Mr.  Brooke ; 
''  we  will  pull  down  any  houfe  Mr.  Brooke  has  4 
*^  mind."  This,  however,  they  might  have  fiid  witl^ 
refpeft  to  a  perfon  with  whom  they  had  had  no  pre- 
vious communication. 


SECTION    VII. 

Of  the  Condu^  of  the  Magifirates,  and  other s^  after 
the  Commencement  of  the  Riot. 

1  H  E  fads  related  in  the  preceding  feflion 
fufficlently  prove  that  there  was  no  difpofition  i^ 
the  magiftrates,  or  the  high  church  party  in  gene- 
ral, to  check,  but  rather  to  promote,  the  riot  at  its 
commencement.  Other  fafts  as  clearly  prove  that 
this  difpofition  continued  till  the  dellruclion  of  both 

the 


f  S  An  appeal  to  the  Public 

the  meeting  houfes,  and  of  every  thing  belongmg; 
to  me.  When  the  rioters  proceeded  to  attack  th« 
houfes  of  Mr.  Ryland  and  Mr.  Taylor,  diere  is  no 
doubt  that  the  greatefi  enemies  of  the  Diffenters  were 
alarmed,  and  wifaed  to  fupprcfs  the  rioters;  but  hav* 
ing  encouraged  them  before,  they  were  at  a  lofs  how 
to  proceed,  and  at  all  events  v/ere  determined  not  to 
have  recourfe  tofrre-arnis^  though  there  was  no  doubt 
but  that//:^ij- v/ould  have  been  effeftual  in  any  period  of 
iin£  bufinefs.  Afcer  the  pofidve  encouragem.ent  given 
to  the  rioters,  the  reafon  of  this  condu6t  was  evident. 

Several  of  the  circumftances  that  I  fhall  now 
mention  alfo  clearly  fliew  that  the  proper  object  of 
the  riot  was  the  Dijfentersy  and  nothing  relating  to 
iht  dinner,  or  the  French  revolution.  The  handbill^ 
alfo,  which  had  no  relation  but  to  the  French  revo- 
lution, would  have  been  as  much  forgotten  as  the 
dinaer,  had  it  not  been  for  the  idea  of  its  being 
written  by  myfelf  or  fome  other  DifTenter.  Tl>ofe 
things  had  fufficlently  anfwered  their  purpofe,  and 
the  mob  proceeded  on  its  natural  and  original  prirt- 
ciple,  the  bigotry  of  the  church  people  againfl  the 
Diffenters.  In  what  follows  I  fiiall  firft  relate  the 
circuraftances  that  refpecl  the  conduft  of  die  ma- 
gifirates,  then  that  of  the  clergy,  and  afterwards  tha^ 
of  other  perfons. 

About  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  15th, 
when  the  rioters  were  deftroying  my  houfe,  one  of 

thQ 


On  the  Riots  in  Bi?iningham.  59 

the  maglftrates  rode  up  to  it,  raifed  his  arm,  and 
beckoning  to  them,  laid,  "  Come  hither,  my  good 
*^  hearty  boys."  When  they  were  gathered  round 
him,  he  bade  them  take  off  their  hats,  and  huzz^i, 
which  they  did,  and  he  did  the  fame  feveral  times, 
He  then  faid,  "  I  commend  you  for  what  you  have 
"  done,  and  will  proteft  you  for  it.  No  fire  ;  re- 
"  turn  to  your  work."  They  huaza'd,  and  when  he 
was  gone,  they  returned  to  the  houfe,  and  continueti 
to  demolilh  it,  crying,  as  my  fon,  who  heard  them, 
fiid,  "  Spencer  for  ever."  The  reafon  he  gave 
why  he  would  not  have  them  hurt  the  houfe  was, 
that  it  belonged  to  Mr.  Lloyd,  a  quaker.  It  had 
lately  belonged  to  him,  but  had  been  fold  to  Mr, 
William  Humphrys. 

Between  nine  and  ten  the  fame  day  the  other 
magiftrate  coming  along  Bale  End  in  a  chaife,  and 
the  people  gathering  round  him,  he  took  off  his  hat, 
waved  it  out  of  t\\Q  window,  and  cried,  "  Church 
*'  and  King  for  ever^  my  lads.  Be  true  to  your 
"  caufci  ftick  to  your  caufe.  Be  of  my  determi- 
**  nation,  to  lofe  the  laft  drop  of  blood  in  your  bo- 
*^  dies:  it  is  my  determination  to  lofe  the  laft  drop 
"  of  mine.  Do  not  leave  thefe  Preft)yterian  dogs 
"  a  place  ftanding,"  He  then  huzza'd  again,  cry- 
ing, Church  and  Kingy  and  the  mob  did  the  fame. 
At  two  o'clock,  however,  on  the  fame  day,  when 
Mr.  Rybnd's  houfe  v/as  burning,  he  fiid  to  the 
rioters,  "  You  have  gone  paft  what  you  were  or- 

"  dered." 


6o  An  Appeal  to  the  Puhllc 

"  dered."  Both  the  magiftrates  faw  a  man  fcized 
for  carrying  off  three  bottles  from  Mr.  Ryland's 
lioufe  without  taking  any  notice  of  iti  and  the  man 
was  fet  at  liberty. 

That  the  rioters  took  it  for  granted  that  the  ma- 
gifcrates  favoured  them  there  can  be  no  donbt; 
though  it  is  natural  to  fuppofe  that,  liking  the  bufi- 
nefsj  they  v/ould  make  the  moft  of  every  circum- 
llance  of  that  kind.  Some  of  the  rioters  being 
taken  into  cuftody  at  Hay-hall,  the  refidence  of 
Mr.  Smith,  others  came,  as  they  faid,  by  order  of 
Mr.  Carles,  to  demand  their  releafe,  faying  they  did 
not  come  to  do  any  damage  to  the  hoiife. 

At  my  houfe  the  rioters  faid,  "  The  juftices 
*'  will  proted  us  j  we  'fhall  not  be  hurtj  we  may  do 
*'  what  we  pleafe,  but  not  burn  the  houfe."  They 
repeatedly  faid  in  the  courfe  of  that  night,  "  We 
**  wifli  we  had  the  doctor  locked  up  in  one  of  the 
*'  rooms,  we  would  burn  him  alive ;  or  if  he  had 
^'  come  to  the  hotel,  v/e  would  have  killed  him." 

Mr.  Carpenter,  of  Woodrow,  at  fome  diftance 
from  Birmingham,  meeting  a  party  of  the  rioters 
wlio  did  not  know  him,  faid  they  were  going  to 
burn  his  houfe  by  orders  from  juftice  Carles.  On 
his  remonitrating  to  them,  they  perfifted  in  faying 
they  had  juftice  Carles's  orders  for  it,  and  down  it 
.ihoyld  come.     On  Mr.  Carpenter  applying  to  Mr, 

Carles 


On  the  R'lofs  in  Birmingham.  6t 

Carles  afterwards  for  the  afiiftance  of  the  foldiers, 
he  infulted  him,  by  aflcing  him  if  he  ever  knew  an 
honeft  Prelbyterian  on  the  Lickey  ?  his  houfe  being, 
on  a  hill  fo  called.  He  was  not  only  refufed  the 
Ibldiers  for  whom  he  applied,  but  could  not  obtain 
kave  to  feize  any  of  the  rioters  without  them^ 

That  the  rioters  had  been  led,  by  fome  means  or 
other,  to  imagine  that  what  they  did  was  agreeable 
fo  government,  is  as  evident  as  that  they  thoughc 
they  were  pleafmg  the  magiftrates.  Soon  after  the 
riot,  one  man  was  heard  to  fay  to  another,  "  Well, 
"  if  any  body  is  hanged  for  it,  the  king  may  fight 
"  for  himfelf  another  time  :  for  I  am  fure  nobody 
"  elfe  will  fight  for  him."  .At  the  time  that  the 
rioters  were  demolifhing  the  old  meeting,  one  of 
tliem  faid  to  another,  "  This  is  not  right;"  but  the 
other  replied,  "  Nay,  but  the  king  has  fent  us,  and 
"  if  we  do  not  do  it,  he  wilt  foon  lofe  his  crown.'* 
On  the  Saturday,  when  the  rioters  were  hunting 
fome  ducks,  and  were  talking  of  the  foldiers  com- 
ing, one  of  them  faid,  ^"^  What  if  they  do,  they  will 
**  not  hurt  us,  as  we  have  been  fighting  on  their 
"  fide.  The  jaftices  are  for  us.  Did  you  not  fee 
"  hov/  they  laughed  ?" 

That  the  magiftrates  were  determined  not  to  have 
recourfe  to  fire  arms,  though  this  appeared  to  be 
the  only  effeflual  method  of  quelling  the  mob,  was 
evident  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  bufi- 

nefsj 


6l  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

uefs;  and  that  they  ihould  not  have  done  this,  if  thejr 
had  been  confcious  to  themfelves  that  they  had 
given  no  encouragement  to  the  rioters,  I  cannot  well 
conceive. 

in  the  afternoon  of  the  firtecnth,  Capt.  Maxwell 
propofed  to  Mr.  Carles  to  colled  all  the  foldiers  in 
Unt  town,  and  head  them  himfelf,  faying  he  had  no 
doubt  but  that  he  fliould  be  able  to  put  a  fpcedy 
fcop  to  the  riot;  but  Mr.  Carles  turned  from  him  with 
ilrong  marks  of  difapprobation  in  his  countenance. 
Mr.  Ruffel,  as  early  in  the  bufmefs  as  poflible,  ap- 
plied to  Mr.  Carles  to  fend  for  a  military  force  to 
quell  the  mob,  and  likewife  propofed  to  head  any 
number  of  men  flirniflied  v/ith  fire  arms.  He  v/rote 
to  him  to  defire  that  twenty  men  might  be  fent  to 
afiifl  in  the  defence  of  Mr.  Flumphrys's  houfe.  But 
no  requeft  of  this  kind  was  ever  iiftened  to,  and  at 
twelve  o'clock  on  Saturday  he  received  a  note  from 
Mr.  Carles,  informing  him  that  both  himfelf  and 
Dr.  Spencer  were  determined  upon  pacific  mea- 
fures.  Mr.  Hutton's  fervant  having  pricked  one  of 
the  rioters  with  a  bayonet,  and  the  party  afterwards 
coming  before  the  juftices,  Mr.  Carles  remarked, 
and  Dr.  Spencer  acquiefced  in  it,  that  he  had  no  right 
to  ufe  arms,  except  the  other  perfon  had  been  armed 
jn  the  fame  manner. 

That  any  of  the  clergy  of  Birmingham  liad  the 
kaft  concern  in  the  riot,  or  were  at  ail  weli-wifliers 

to 


0/2  the  Riots  in  Binninghain.  62 

to  it,  I  was  far  from  having  any  idea  at  the  time  of 
writing  my  Appeal,  though  Mr.  Burn  has  more 
.  than  infinuated  this.  I  only  thought  they  had  con- 
tributed to  raife  the  fpirit  which  produced  the  riot. 
Circumllances  have  fince  occurred  which,  I  own, 
do  lead  me  to  think  that  Mr.  Curtis  was  not  wholly 
innocent.  At  lead,  whatever  might  be  his  mean- 
ing, his  behaviour  contributed  not  a  little  to  encou- 
rage the  rioters.  One  circumftance  I  mentioned  in 
a  preceding  fedlon,  and  two  others  I  Ihall  recite 
here. 

Being  with  a  party  of  the  rioters  oppofite  to  St. 
Martin's  church,  he  thanked  them  for  what  they 
had  done  in  protedling  the  church  and  the  king. 
He  then  took  oft  iiis  hat,  joined  in  three  huzzas, 
and  wilhed  them  to  follow  him,  which  they  did. 

On  Friday,  as  the  mob  were  returning  from  the 
deftnidion  of  Mr.  Ryiand's  houfe,  Mr.  Curtis 
harangued  them  at  die  top  of  Temple  Street,  fay- 
ing, "  We  thank  you,  my  brave  fellov/s,  for  the 
'*^  zeal  you  have  fhown  for  the  church  and  the  king, 
"  You  have  now  fufiiciently  punifhed  your  enemies, 
"  and  we  beg  you  will  difperfe,  and  go  peaceably 
'*  about  your  bufincfs."  Being  thanked  for  what 
they  had  done,  they  might  think  that  they  could 
not  be  blamed  for  doing  a  little  more. 

Mr.  Curtis,  willing  to  appear  fricnuly  to  the  Dif- 
E  8  fenters. 


64  -^f^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

fenters,  during  the  riot,  now  fays  in  Mr.  Burn's 
pamphlet,  p.  90,  "  During  the  riots  my  houfe 
"  at  SolyhuU  was  open  to  a  DifTenter  and  his 
"  £imily,  and  the  children  of  another  family  were 
''  literally  clothed  by  Mrs.  Curtis."  That  Mr. 
Curtis  had  a  real  good  will  to  many  individuals 
among  the  DiflTenters,  1  have  no  doubt,  and  that  he 
wilhed  the  dcitruftion  of  any  of  us  I  do  not  be- 
lieve. 

But  there  was  little  to  boafl  of  in  his  conduil  in 
the  cafe  to  which  he  refers.  The  Diffenter  that  he 
received  into  his  houfe  was  old  Mr.  Smith  of  Hay 
Hall,  a  man  univerfally  refpefted,  and  who,  I  be- 
lieve, has  no  enemy;  fo  that  he  ran  no  rifis:  in  re- 
ceiving him.  Confcious,  however,  that  he  himfelf 
was  not  very  popular  in  his  parifh,  and  that  many 
perfons  might  wifh  for  a  pretence  to  do  him  mif- 
chief,  at  Mr.  Curtis's  own  requeft,  Mr.  Smith  re- 
moved to  the  houfe  of  Mr.  Eyre,  another  clergyman 
of  the  place,  who  was  ready  to  run  all  rifques  in 
proted;ing  him.  There,  and  not  at  Mr.  Curtis's, 
Mr.  Smith  flcpt ;  and  the  next  day,  to  the  great 
concern  of  Mr.  Eyre,  Mr.  Smith  v/as  induced,  from 
the  alarm  of  the  neighbours,  to  remove. 

As  to  Mrs.  Curtis  literally  clothing  the  children  of 
a  family  of  DifTenters,  I  have  no  doubt  of  her  rea- 
dinefi  to  do  it  in  a  cafe  of  real  charity.  But  it  will 
not  be  fuppofed  that,  in  ibis  cafe,  die  could  look 

for 


iDn  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  65 

for  no  recompenfe  except  at  the  reJurreElion  of  the 
JHfti  when  it  is  known  that  thefe  children  were  thofe 
of  Mr.  Taylor.  They  had  gone  out  during  the 
riot  with  the  maid  fervant  who  attended  them,  and 
were  brought  to  the  houfe  of  two  ladiesj  who  lived 
not  far  from  Solyhiill.  Thefe  ladies,  being  un- 
married, had  no  change  of  clothes  for  children,  and 
therefore  they  fent  to  Mrs.  Curds  to  borrow  fome 
v/hile  their  own  were  walhing,  and  fhe  fuppiied 
them.  It  would  have  been  very  extraordinary,  in- 
deed, if  fhe,  or  any  otlier  perfon,  who  had  chil- 
dren's clothes  in  the  houfe,  had  refufed  fuch  a  re- 
quell  as  this. 

When  the  rioters  were  demblifhing  the  new  meet- 
ing, another  of  the  clergy  is  faid  to  have,  encouraged 
them  by  faying,  "  Well  done,  my  lads.  When  yoii 
"  have  done  here,  go  and  pull  down  their  houfes 
"  too." 

Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  94,  "  Mr.  Lawrence  (a  cler- 
"  gyman  in  Birmingham)  and  another  gentleman 
**^  exerted  their  utmoft  endeavours  to  fave  the  Doc- 
"  tor's  laboratory.*'  That  Mr.  Lawrence  was  no 
rioter,  and  did  not  himfelf  affift  in  the  deftrudion  of 
my  property,  I  readily  acknowledge*  But  it  does 
hot  appear  that  he  took  any  pains  to  reftrain  the 
rioters  when  they  were  demolifhing  the  houfe. 
On  the  contrary,  they  confidered  him  as  their 
friend.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  alfo  obferved  to  be  read- 
ing feveral  of  my  MS.  papers,  and  to  put  them 

F  into. 


6  6  An  Appeal  to  the  Piihtk 

into  his  pocket.  What  he  did  with  them  2i(- 
terwards  does  not  appear.  He  mull  have  known 
that,  being  my  property,  he  ought  to  have  returned 
them  to  me,  or  to  my  friends.  If  they  were  letters, 
he  ought  not,  as  a  man  of  honour,  to  have  read 
them  at  all. 

In  what  light  the  rioters  Gonfidcred  Mr.  Law- 
rence, may  appear  from  the  following  circumftarice. 
When  he  went  to  the  houfe  the  fecond  time,  in  the 
morning  of  the  fifteenth,  the  rioters  at  my  houfe 
repeatedly  faid  that  Mr.  Lav/rence  had  been  there, 
that  they  were  lure  lie  thoughit  they  were  doing 
right,  for  he  laughed  at  them,  and  they  would  be 
damned  if  they  v/ould  not  go  on.  Some  ot  them 
fhook  him  by  the  hand,  crying  out,  "  The  curate 
"  of  the  new  church.  By  God.  By  God."  They 
continued  to  furround  him,  and  to  (hake  him  by 
the  hand  near  half  an  hour,  while  he  only  de- 
fired  them  to  loofe  him,  but  exprelTed  no  dilap- 
prcbarion  of  their  condu^it. 

At  the  fame  time  that,  in  niy  own  vindication,  I 
Tiiention  thefe  particulars  of  the  conduct  of  fome  of 
the  clergy  of  Birmingham,  with  the  greateft  fatif- 
fafticn  I  do  juilice  to  Mr.  Darwell,  who  was  in- 
defadgable  in  his  exertions  in  favour  of  Mr.  Jukes, 
and  I  believe  of  other  DilTenters. 

That  the  rioters  confidered  the  clergy  as  being 
favourable  to  them.,  may  eafiiy  be  inferred  from  every 

circumilanceji 


On  the  Riots  in  hh'mingham.  6  J 

drcumdance,  which  {hewed  that  the  Diflenters,  as 
fuch,  were  the  objeft  of  their  maHce.  When  Mr. 
Ryland's  houfe  was  burning  one  of  the  magiftrates, 
pointing  to  the  church,  faid,  "  You  fee  your 
"  church,  you  have  done  your  beft  for  it.  Do  not 
"  do  any  more.  We  are  much  obfiged  to  you; 
"  you  fee  your  ftrength,"  &c.  &c.  Mr.  Carles  faid 
to  Mr.  W.  Ryland,  and  two  other  DiiTenters  who 
were  following  him  in  the  ftreet,  on  the  fifteenth, 
that  they  muil  not  come  after  him,  for  as  they  were 
known  to  be  Diflenters,  it  would  only  irritate  the 
mob,  and  make  them  more  violent;  but  when  he 
came  to  the  inn  v/here  Mr.  Carles  had  promifed  to 
meet  him,  he  found  the  door  fhut  againft  him. 

That  other  perfons  befidcs  the  m.agiftrates  and 
the  clergy  were  favourable  to  the  rioters,  and  ap- 
proved of  much  of  v/hat  they  did,  appeared  from  fe- 
veral  circumftances.  On  the  fifteenth,  about  noon, 
Mr.  J.  Green  faid,  "  Vv^e  are  fatislied  with  what  is 
'^  done,  and  now  I  wiili  they  would  give  over,  for 
"  they  have  done  enough."  On  the  fame  day  the 
gentleman  in  he  green  coat,  one  inftance  of  whofe 
condu(5l  has  been  mentioned  before,  being  at  the  houfe 
of  Mr.  P.yland,  pulled  off  his  hat,  and  huzzaed  to  the 
rioters,  faying,  "  GentlemxCn,  I  applaud  you  for  what 
"  you  have  done,  but  flop  here.  This  is  private 
"  property.  Though  thefe  are  the  men  who  Willi  to 
"  overturn  the  conftitution,  we  have  other  means  of 
F  2  **^  redrefs," 


6S  j^n  Appeal  to  the  Public 

"  redrefs."     The  mob,  however,  continued  to  de- 
ftroy  the  houfe. 

At  Sparkbrook  turnpike  diree  gentlemen  being 
on  horfeback,  were  converfing  very  familiarly  with 
the  rioters,  while  my  houfe  was  burning;  when  one 
of  them  laid  aloud,  "  My  lads,  you  fee  your  power  j 
"  you  fee  that  if  any  attempt  is  made  againft  the 
"  government  of  this  country,  you  have  it  in  your 
**  power  to  quafh  it." 

That  fome  perfbns  above  the  condition  of  th<? 
common  rioters  were  deeply  concerned  in  the  bufi- 
nefs,  appeared  from  many  circumftances,  befides 
thofe  that  are  mentioned  in  my  Appeal.  The  forged 
letter,  which  was  read  at  my  houfe,  in  order  to  in- 
Higate  the  mob  to  do  me  mifchief,  is  alone  a  proof 
of  this,  and  a  copy  of  it  will  appear  in  my  Appendix, 
No.  V.  When  I  was  at  Warwick,  at  the  time  of  the 
alTizes,  I  received  a  fummons  from  our  opponents^ 
the  hand  writiiig  of  which  could  not  be  diftin- 
guiflied  from  that  of  this  forged  letter.  I  have  no 
doubt  rnyfelf  who  the  writer  of  this  forged  letter  w^as> 
though  no  legal  proof  can  be  given  of  it. 

Another  forged  letter  was  read  at  Mr.  Ruflell's 
houfe,  a  copy  of  which  could  not  be  procured,  but 
the  following  account  of  it  is  given  upon  oath.  Two 
men  were  on  horfeback  while  the  houfe  was  burn- 
ing, 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham;  69 

ingj  and  one  of  them  read  a  paper,  which  he  de- 
clared he  had  found  in  the  houfe,  purporting  that 
*^  the  Prefbyterians  intended  to  rife,  to  burn  down 
^'  the  church,  blow  up  the  parliament,  cut  off  the 
^^  king's  head,  and  abolifh  all  taxes."  The  paper 
was  figned  E.  Jcffenesy  No.  24,  St.  Thomas's  Street^ 
London.  The  i6th  of  Auguft,  they  faid  was  the 
time  fixed  for  the  infurreilion.  The  perfon  who 
read  the  paper  faid,  "  Damn  it,  you  fee  they 
"  would  deftroy  us.  It  is  right  that  we  fliould 
"  crufh  them  in  time." 

They  had  alfo  another  letter,  which  one  of  the 
perfons  prefent  faid  was  to  know  how  many  forces 
Mr.  Ruffel  could  colleft  by  the  tenth,  and  that  they 
ihbuld  be  ready  to  join  in  concert  with  their  friends 
in  Scotland.  This  letter  was  faid  to  be  figned  by 
the  fteward  of  the  Revolution  fociety.  He  that 
had  this  letter  faid,  "  Damn  them,  we  will  deftroy 
*^  every  Prefbyterian's  houfe  in  England."  A 
ftranger,  who  was  prefent,  faying  that  fome  of  the 
rioters  would  be  hanged  for  what  they  were  doing, 
one  of  them  anfwered,  "  How  can  they  hang  us, 
"  when  the  jultices  fet  us  agait  r"  Being  afked 
what  juflices,  he  faid,  "  Mafter  Carles  and  Mailer 
"  Spencer,  and  I  mull  do  the  jullices'  work,  and  by 
"  God  I  will  go  to  the  pay  table  to  night,  for  I 
**  have  worked  damned  hard.  Wont  you,  Tom  ?" 
'J'om  anfwered,  "  And  by  God  will  I."     The  per- 

F  3  foa 


7©  yln  Appeal  to  the  Public 

ion  who  read  one  of  thefe  forged  letters  was  fo  de- 
fcribed  as  to  be  well  known  in  Birmingham. 


'to' 


The  following  circumflances  alfo  fhew  that  there 
were  promoters  of  the  riot  among  perfons  of  better 
condition,  and  that  they  difguifed  themfclves  for  the 
piirpofe.  While  the  New  Meeting  was  deflroyingj 
a  perfon  was  there  who  had  the  appearance  of  a 
gendcman,  his  linen  being  fine,  and  with  ruffles 
tucked  up.  He  was  very  anxious  to  have  the  meet- 
ing-houfe  conRimed,  and  Hood  two  hours  viewing  ie. 
The  fame  perfon  was  feen  at  Mr,  Ruficll's,  but  dif- 
ferently dreiled,  and  on  horfeback. 

After  the  rioters  had  entered  the  Old  Meeting,  a 
perfon  was  feen  in  the  gallery,  who  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  gentleman,  but  Vv-ho  endeavoured  to 
difguife  himfeif  with  a  great  coat,  the  cape  of 
"whicli  he  buttoned  up  as  high  as  he  could,  and  his 
hat  was  brought  down  very  low.  Three  or  four 
perfons  came  up  to  him,  and  converfed  with  him  in 
whifpers.  One  of  the  rioters,  knowing  the  witnefs, 
•aimed  a  blow  at  him,  fo  that  he  left  them. 

At  Mofely  Hall  alfo  a  peiion  was  feen  above  the 
lower  clafs  with  a  riding  coat  buttoned  up  to  his  chin, 
and  which  covered  a  great  part  of  his  head  and  face. 
He  went  about  in  a  deliberate  manner,  giving  or- 
ders, which  were  obeyed.     ThiCre  were  feveral  per- 
fons 


On  the  Rwts  in  Blnnhigham.  7 1 

fons  dreffed  like  gentlemen  at  Mr.  Humph rys's,  but 
elpecially  at  Mr.  RuflTers,  encouraging  the  rioters, 
laughing  at  them,  and  faying  they  ferved  the  Pref- 
byterians  right,  for  they  deferved  it.  The  lalt  cir- 
cumftance  that  I  fhall  mention  with  this  view  is, 
that  a  lady,  in  a  mixed  com.pany,  unwarily  faid, 
"  I  very  ofcen  laugh  to  think  what  a  figure  our, 
"  three  dons  would  cut,  one  in  a  waggoner's  frock, 
"  another  with  his  Ij^qq  blacked,  and  the  other  with 
"  his  hair  cropped."  But  a  hint  being  given  that  a 
DifTenter  was  in  the  company,  flie  proceeded  no 
farther. 


SECTION    VIIL 
Circumfiances  Juhjequent  to  the  Riot. 

riAVING  confidered  what  pafTed  pre- 
vious to  the  riot,  and  during  the  continuance  of 
it,  as  a  proof  that  it  originated  in  die  bigotry  of 
the  High  Church  people  againft  the  Dillenters,  I 
proceed  to  v/hat  paiTed  fubfequent  to  itj  and  it 
will  fdiiiciently  appear  that  the  fame  malignant  fpiiit 
condnued  to  actuate  many  perfons  in  Birmingham, 
in  its  vicinity,  and  indeed  through  the  whole  king- 
dom; fo  that  the  news  of  it  was  far  from  being  fo 
difpleafing  as  it  ought  to  have  been. 

The  condu6t  of  the  magiflrates,  v.hich  has  been 
Ihewn  to  have  been  fo  criminally  remifs,  to  fpeak  in 

F'4  the 


y2  JjH  Appeal  to  the  Public 

the  moxl  favourable  manner,  could  not  but  have 
been  known  to  the  generality  of  the  people  of  Bir- 
mingham, and  yet  at  a  public  town's  meeting, 
^'  certainly,"  fiys  Mr.  Burn,  p.  80,  "  one  of  the 
*'  moft  numerous,  unanimous,  and"  as  he  adds, 
?^  refpedlabie,  ever  convened  at  Birmingham,  called 
*^  for  the  exprefs  purpofe  of  thanking  our  magif- 
**  trates,  there  did  not  appear  any  one  fa6t  that 
*'  would  juftify  them  in  withholding  their  warmeft 
**  acknowledgments  from  thofe  gentlemen." 

That  any  public  meeting  fhould  be  called  to  thank 
perfons  whofe  condu6l  was  fo  culpable,  as  that  of  ^ 
Mr.  Caries  and  Dr.  Spencer,  involved  all  concerned 
in  that  meeting  (though  I  believe  a  fmall  part  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Birmingham)  provided  they  were 
acquainted  vv^ith  the  circumftances  above  mentioned^ 
in  the  guilt  of  the  riot.  Mr.  Burn  himfelf,  by  join- 
ing in  this  approbation,  vpluntarily  takes  his  fhare 
in  this  guile  5  and  I  fhould  not  otherwife  have  thought 
of  charging  him  with  it. 

A  proof  of  bigotry,  and  of  an  approbadon  of  the 
riot,  fimilar  to  that  which  is  implied  in  the  thanks 
to  the  rnagiftratcs,  is  the  reward  that  was  given  to 
Mr.  Brooke,  in  making  him  fole  folicitor  to  the 
hundred.  To  this  lucrative  office  he  was  recom- 
mended by  lord  Alesford,  "  for  the  zeal,  that  he  had 
"  fhewn  in  the  caufe  of  the  Church  and  King."  A 
club  has  fmce  htzn  formed  in  Birmmgham,  intitlcd. 


0?i  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  *f 3 

^he  Church  and  King  Cluhy  of  which  Mr.  Brooke  is 
fecretary. 

Mr.  Burn  would  infinuatej  p.  67,  that  my  con-? 
ducfr,  in  criminating  the  High  Church  party  in  Bir- 
mingham, is  condemned  by  thofe  Diflenters  who  in 
a  pubhc  advertifement  thanked  thofe  members  of 
the  eftablifliment  who  had  exerted  themfelyes  in  their 
favour.  As  many  of  them  certainly  did  fo,  thofe 
thanks  were  well  deferved,  and  proper.  "  But 
^'  from  this,"  Mr.  Burn  fays,  p.  68,  "  it  fufiiciently 
''^  appears,  that  Dr.  Prieflley,  in  his  infidious  ma- 
*^  nagement  of  this  bufinefs,  afts  as  much  in  oppo- 
"  fition  to  the  avowed  opinion  of  the  relpeflable  body 
^'  of  DifTenters  in  Birmingham,  as  he  has  done  to 
^^  the  cleareft  dictates  of  candour  and  truth."  This, 
indeed,  is  true :  becaufe  it  does  not  yet  appear  that 
I  have  in  any  inftance  afted  contrary  to  the  dictates 
of  candour  and  truth.  I  Ihould  myfelf  haye  cheer- 
fully concurred  in  that  addrefs  of  thanks,  and  I  now 
acknowledge  myfelf  under  much  obligation  to  feve- 
ral  members  of  the  church  of  England  for  affifling 
in  faving  part  of  my  property,  and  to  Mr.  Vale  ia 
particular,  for  materially  affifting  me  in  my  efcape. 
But  how  is  this  inconfiflent  with  other  members 
of  the  church  of  England  being  concerned  in  pro- 
moting the  riot  ?  Becaufe  fome,  or  the  majority  of 
any  clafs  of  men,  are  worthy  perfons,  does  it  fol- 
low diat  others  of  them  may  not  be  even  deferving 
of  the  gallows  ?  Such,  however,  is  the  reafoning  of 


24  -^^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

Mr.  Bum,  and  a  fpccimen  of  the  beil  of -his  reafon- 
ing  in  this  pamphlet. 

That  there  was  a  great  willingnefs  in  feme  of 
the  principal  memberjs  of  the  church  of  England 
to  criminate  me^  and  thereby  in  fome  meafure  to 
juftify  the  riot,  appeared  from  many  circumilances. 
The  following  look  at  leaft  that  way.  Mr.  Carles 
and  Mr.  Bond  (a  jullice  of  peace  fent  down  by  go- 
vernment) went  on  Saturday,  July  23,  to  Mr. 
Hawkes  of  the  Grove,  who  had  fome  of  my  books 
and  papers,  and  demanded  a  fight  of  them.  When 
they  had  examined  many  of  them,  they  ordered 
him  to  fend  them  to  them  the  next  day;  but  after- 
wards fent  him  word,  that  he  did  not  need  to  do  it. 

But  the  fame  difpofition  appeared  much  more 
llrongly  by  Mr.  Curtis  reading  fome  of  my  MS. 
papers,  and  fending  them,  as  he  acknowledges  him- 
jelf,  to  the  fecretary  of  ilate ;  when  feeing  what  I 
had  already  fufFered,  infinitely  more  than  the  fen- 
tence  of  the  law,  if  I  had  even  been  convided  of 
fcdition,  he  ought  not  to  have  looked  into  them. 
Or  if  he  had,  and  had  thought  that  they  might 
tend  to  criminate  me,  he  fliould  have  fent  them  to 
myfclf.  Such  conduct,  though,  as  he  was  incapable 
of  it,  he  m.ay  have  no  conception  of  the  thing, 
would  have  been  magnanimous,  and  have  done  him 
great  honour. 

The 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  75 

The  fecretary  of  'date  has  been  guilty  of  equal 
meannefs  and  injuftice  in  keeping  thofe  papers  from 
me,  whofe  property  he  knows  them  to  be.  He 
alfo  knows,  though  Mr.  Curtis  was  probably  igno- 
rant of  it,  that  I  am  not  anfwerable  for  what  other 
perfons  may  write  to  me ;  and  furely  I  cannot  be 
expefted  to  be  the  wretch  that  would  divulge  any 
thins;  fent  to  me  in  confidence,  to  the  writer's 
prejudice. 

Though  copies  of  thefe  papers,  which  I  underftand 
are  letters-,  written  to  me  by  an  acquaintance,  are 
circulated  among  the  clergy,  I  do  not  find  (and 
what  I  know  of  them  is  from  the  teftimony  of  a 
friend,  who  was  permitted  to  read  them,  but  not  to 
take  a  copy)  that  they  contain  any  thing  more  than 
fuch  free  refleftions  on  adminifliration  as  perpetually 
occur  in  the  public  newfpapers,  and  indeed  fuch  as 
it  is  allowable  in  Englifhmen  to  write  and  to  pub- 
iifh,  whenever  they  think  the  conduft  of  minifters 
of  Hate  to  be  weak  or  criminal.  I  hereby  call  upon 
the  perfon  who  detains  thefe  letters  from  me  to  make 
them  as  public  as  he  pleafes. 

The  grofs  calumnies  againil  the  DilTenters  in 
general,  and  myfelf  in  particular,  invented  and  cir- 
culated in  juilification  of  the  riot,  are  another  proof 
of  the  malignant  fpirit  that  prevailed  in  the  town 
of  Birmingham,  and  that  was  the  proper  caufe  of  it. 
Of  this  kind  muft  have  been  the  report  of  my 

dininor 


y6  j^n  Jppeal  to  the  Public 

dining  at  the  Hotel,  harane-uino;  the  mob  out  of 
tht  window,  and  drinking  the  king's  head  in  a  charger. 
It  is  remarkable  that  this  account,  which  muft 
have  been  a  malicious  fabrication,  was  the  firfl:  that 
was  tranfmitted  to  London,  in  order  to  be  inferted 
in  the  papers  there  ^  and  the  printer  of  The 'Times 
alTured  me,  that  fr  was  lent  to  him  by  "  a  re^ 
*'  fpe6lable  perfon  in  the  mercantile  line  in  Bir- 
^*  m.ingham/' 

It  was  currently  reported  of  young  Mr.  Hum- 
phrys,  that  he  had  declared  his  wi(h  "  to  wade  up 
"  to  the  chin  in  churchmen's  blood."  This  was 
confidendy  aflerted  by  Mr.  William  Gem  of  New 
Street,  Birmingham;  and  when  he  was  charged 
with  it,  he  acknowledged  the  fa£b,  but  faid  he  was 
drunk  when  he  faid  it.  Mr.  Humphrys's  Ij^irited 
^dverdfement  in  the  public  papers  on  the  fubjecl 
jnay  be  feen  in  my  Appendix,  No.  VI. 

Two  calumnies  of  this  complexion  are  retailed  by 
Mr.  Burn,  p.  113  3  one  that  a  Diflenter  faid,  that 
*^  kings  were  expenfive  things  in  this  country;" 
which,  however,  is  certainly  very  true;  but  it  was 
interpreted  in  the  worll  fenfe,  or  tending  to  fedition. 
The  other  was,  that  another  DilTenter,  being  applied 
to  to  pay  a  church  levy,  faid,  "  he  fliould  not  pay 
"  many  more."  But  both  thefe  ftories  were  pro- 
bably no  better  founded  than  that  refpe6ling  Mr. 
Humphrys,  or  that  of  my  dining  at  the  Hotel  and 
J  di'inking 


On  the  Riots  in  Birjnmgham,  *?y 

drinking  the  king's  head  in  a  charger.  Mr.  Witten 
was  probably  the  perfon  alluded  to  as  having  madd 
the  lad  of  thefe  declarations  to  Mr.  Collins  the  collec- 
tor. But  when  he  applied  to  Mr.  Burn,  he  refuled 
to  name  his  accufer,  and  Mr.  Collins  denied  that 
Mr.  Witten  made  uie  of  the  language  afcribed  to 
him,  and  that  what  he  did  fay  was  only  jocofely. 

Mr.  David  Blair  is  underflood  to  be  the  perfon 
alluded  to  as  having  faid  that  kings  were  expenfive; 
but  though  he  alfo  waited  on  Mr.  Burn,  he  declined 
faying  the  converfation  referred  to  him:  fo  that  in 
both  thefe  cafes  Mr.  Burn  himfelf  mufl  be  confi- 
dered  as  die  inventor  of  the  reports.  The  perfon 
who  was  probably  Mr.  Burn's  informer,  if  he  had 
any,  was  one  who,  paffing  by  Mr.  Blair  on  the  14th 
of  July,  called  after  him  and  faid,  "So  you  are 
"  going  to  the  Hotel,  I  findi"  and  added,  "  I  wifli 
"  you  were  all  blown  up  together;"  to  which  no- 
thing at  all  was  replied  by  Mr.  Blair. 

What  ftronger  proof  can  be  given  of  this  bigotry 
and  malevolence,  which  appears  to  have  been  the 
proper  caufe  of  the  riot,  than  its  thus  driving  men 
to  invent  and  propagate  known  falfehoods,  in  oi-der 
to  make  the  Diflenters  odious?  They  who  thus 
fliow  that  they  wilh  to  make  the  Diflenters  appear 
the  proper  objefts  of  the  riot,  may  well  be  fufpeded 
of  having  fomented  ic 

The 


yS  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

The  profane  pra6lice  of  drinking  damnation  aftd 
confufion  to  the  DilTcnters  is  another  proof  of  a 
violent  party  Ipirit,  and  though  infhances  of  it  may 
be  iinknpwn,  as  he  fays  they  are,  to  Mr.  Burn,  the 
charge  is  unqiieftionably  true ;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  the  pra£tice  is  ftill  continued  and  increafed. 
I  myfelf  perfectly  remember  a  Diflenter  relating  to 
me  a  converfation  he  had  with  Mr.  Carles,  who  faid 
to  him,  and  not  long  before  the  riot,  "  Though  in 
*'  my  cups  I  do  fometimes  drink  damnation  to  yoir, 
"  I  would  not  hurt  a  hair  of  your  heads."  Vv^hat- 
ever  he  might  think  at  the  moment,  it  appears 
that  his  good  will,  or  rather  his  no  ill  v/ill,  to  the 
DifTcntcrs,  did  not  continue  long. 

When  I  was  at  Warwick,  at  the  late  aflizes,  leve- 
ral  perfons  in  the  Public  Hall  cried  aloud,  "  Damn 
"  him,  there  is  the  caufe  of  all  the  mifchiefi"  and 
one  man,  an  attorney  in  the  place,  followed  me 
a  great  way  in  the  public  ftreet,  then  pretty  much 
crowded,  and  when  I  was  accompanied  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Beringtcn,  Mr.  Galton,  and  Mr.  Keir, 
three  as  refpeftable  m.en  as  the  county  can  furnifti, 
damning  me  in  the  mOil  vociferous  manner,  and 
cxprefling  his  earneft  willi  that  I  had  been  burned 
in  my  houfe.  A  toaft  publicly  given  and  ckank 
with  great  feflivlty  at  the  fame  time  was,  "  May  every 
*^  revolution  dinner  be  followed  by  a  hot  fupper." 
What  can  be  a  clearer  proof  than  this,  tliat  the 

fame 


On  the  Riots  in  Bh'mingham,  'jg 

fame  fp'irit  which  prompted  tlie  riot  ftlll  continues 
without  any  abatement,  and,  if  not  reftrained,  v/ould 
foon  produce  another  ?  There  were  ferious  appre- 
henfions  of  one  while  I  was  at  Warwick,  and  one  of 
the  judges,  I  was  informed,  was  not  a  little  alarmed 
on  that  account. 

At  Birm/ingham  a  member  of  the  eftabliihment 
lately  complained  to  one  of  my  congregation  there, 
of  being  obliged,  when  in  company,  to  drink  Church 
and  King-,  and  damnation  to  the  Prefbyterians. 

Mr.  Burn  calls  what  I  have  faid  of  the  clergy 
having  been  the  firft  to  calumniate  the  DifTenters, 
and  to  place  the  conduft  of  the  mob  in  the  moft  fa- 
vourable light,  p.  72,  '^  a  gratuitous  aflertion,  with- 
"  out  even  the  pretence  of  evidence."  "  What  evi- 
"  dence,"  he  fays,  p.  74,  "  has  Dr.  Prieftley  to 
"  produce,  that  they  have  not  done  fo,"  viz.  been 
the  firft  to  preach  moderation. 

That  Mr.  Madan  preached  a  very  proper  fer- 
mon  after  the  riot,  I  have  been  informed.  It  was 
becoming  him  as  a  chriftian  minifter.  But  this 
was  not  the  cafe  with  Mr.  Curtis.  One  of  his  con- 
ftant  hearers  was  fo  much  offended  at  a  difcourfc 
of  his,  delivered  about  the  fame  time,  that  he  de- 
clared that  "  if  he  had  been  influenced  by  it,  he 
*'  muft  have  been  a  ruffian." 

Among 


Bb  j4n  Appeal  to  the  Public 

Among  other  inflances  of  bigotry,  and  probabljr 
tliat  of  feme  of  the  clergy  at  Birmingham,  I  have 
been  informed  that  a  brick,  taken  as  hot  as  it 
could  be  well  handled  from  the  ruins  of  the  new 
meeting-houfe,  was  carefully  packed  up,  and  fent 
to  the  author  of  feveral  works,  which  fufficiently 
difcover  his  high-church  principles,  and  that  ori 
a  paper  which  accompanied  it,  was  the  word 
AAHAOS,  which,  being  in  Greek,  muft  have  been 
written  by  a  fcholar,  and  therefore  probably  a 
clergyman  of  the  place.  I  was  further  informed^ 
that  he  was  advifed  to  fend  this  brick  to  the 
archbifliop  of  Canterbury.  Whether  he  did  fa 
or  not,  I  have  not  heard.  Thus  have  the  bigots 
exulted  in  the  fuccefs  of  their  enterprife.  But  the 
ruins  of  that  building  will  plead  againft  them  v/ith 
much  more  energy  thaa  all  the  fermons  tliat  could 
ever  have  been  delivered  in  it,  had  it  been  left 
flandin,Q;. 

o 

I  had  obferved  that  the  clergy  fhould  have  offered 
tis  the  ufe  of  their  churches  till  our  meeting-houfes 
could  have  been  rebuilt.  On  this  Mn  Burn  fays^ 
p.  75,  76,  "  The  offer  of  the  churches  to  the  Dif- 
"  fenters  muft  have  come  after  my  letter  to  the  in- 
*^  habitants  of  Birmingham,  and  muft  have  been 
"  ofl'ered  as  a  compenfation  for  injuries  done  to  the 
"  DilTenters,  wliom  diey  were  confcious  they  never 
"  injured,"     It  cannot  be  denied,    however,   that 

-we 


On  the  Riots  In  Birmingham,  8 1 

wc  were  injured,  and  no  doubt  by  churchmen ;  for 
they  were  not  Dillenters  who  demolifhed  the  meet- 
ing-houfes.  And  where  would  have  been  the  un- 
propriety  of  fome  members  of  the  cftabhfhment: 
repairing  the  ir^uries  done  to  us  by  others  ?  Would 
this  have  been  any  confelTion  of  their  guilt?  This  is 
Curious  rcafoning,  indeed.  However,  the  meet- 
ing-houfes  had  been  in  ruins  a  week  before  my  lettei" 
reached  Birmingham.  Had  the  idea  then  occurred 
to  any  member  of  the  eftablifliment?  At  that  time 
I  was  far  enough  from  having  the  lead  idea  of  any 
C>i  the  clergy  promoting  the  riot,  and  therefore  could 
not  mean  that  they  Ihould  do  any  thing  as  a  com- 
penfation  for  injuries  which  they  had  done  to  us> 
and  their  compliance  with  my  propofal  would  have 
tended  more  to  exculpate  them  from  any  approba- 
tion of  the  riot  than  any  thing  elfe  that  could  have 
been  devifed.  That  I  had  no  very  bad  opinion  of 
the  clergy  of  Birmingham  at  the  time  of  the  riot, 
will  be  evident  from  a  letter  v/hich  I  wrote,  to  be  ad- 
drefied  to  them  the  day  after  that  to  the  inhabitants 
in  general.  I  was,  however,  difluaded  by  my  friends 
from  fending  it  to  the  printer,  they  being  of  opinion 
that  it  would  not  anfwer  any  good  purpofe  :  but  I 
Ihall  affert  it  in  my  Appendix,  No,  VIL 


G 


SECTION 


S  2  u^n  Appeal  to  the  Public 


SECTION    IX. 

Ohfervations  on  the  Frcceedings  in  the  Ccurfs  cf  Judi- 
cature on  Occafion  of  the  Riot, 

iSlOTHING,    perhaps,    flicws   a   more 
general  approbation  of  the  riot,  though  the  ap- 
provers were   by  no  means   the   majority  of  the 
church  people,    than  what  pafTed  relating   to  the 
trials  which  followed.     Every  poffible  difficulty  was 
thrown  in  the  way  of  procuring  evidence  againft  the 
rioters,  and  every  thing  was  done  to  fcreen  them 
from  piinifhment.     Alfo,  all  that  men  could  do  was 
done  to  prevent  the  f^itivrers  from  receiving  the  poor 
compenfation  which  the  law  provided  for  them.     It 
argued  fome  confcioufnefs  of  guilt,  that  it  was  con- 
lidered  as  a  great  point  gained  by  the  High  Church 
party  when  the  Houfe  of  Commons  refufed  to  make 
any  inquiry  into  the  caufe  of  the  riot,  and  when  the 
miniftry  gave  no  encouragement  to  the  profecutioB 
of  the  magiflrates,  and  other  promoters  of  the  riot. 
What  have  innocent  perlbns  to  dread  from  the  con- 
fequences  of  inquiry  into  their  condu6lr  Let  the 
reader  attend  to  the  following  fads,  and  draw  his 
own  inferences  from  them. 

A  fubfcription  was  made  to  defray  the  expence  of 
defending  the  rioters  at  the  affizes.  A  letter  was 
drawn  up  by  fome  of  tlie  clergy  of  Birmingham, 
addrelTcd  to  the  judges  oa  the  circuit,  begging  them 

to 


On  the  Riots  In  Birmingham.  83 

to  make  a  diftinflion  between  tliofe  of  the  rioters 
whofe  objefl  was  mere  plunder,  and  thofe  wha 
adled  from  a  pure  but  blind  motive  to  ferve  their 
Church  and  King.  One  of  the  clergy,  who  men- 
tioned this,  faid  he  admired  the  letter,  and  had 
figned  it  himfelf  Whether  it  was  owing  to  this 
meafure,  or  others  of  a  fimilar  tendency,  it  is  a  fad, 
that  no  perfons  have  yet  been  puniilicd  merely  for 
being  concerned  in  the  riot,  but  becaufe  they  were 
the  pefls  of  fociety  on  other  accounts.  Confe- 
quently,  nothing  has  been  done  to  deter  others  from 
committing  a  riot  on  the  fame  account. 

Much  pains  were  taken  to  make  Mr.  Job  Harvey, 
the  evidence  againil  Hands,  or  Hammond,  (who  was 
condemned  for  firing  the  houfe  of  Mr.  Ryland)  fay 
fomething  favourable  concerning  him  when  he  was 
re-examined  before  Mr.  Bond;  and  though  all  that 
he  could  fay  was,  that  he  had  heard  fome  of  the 
perfons  prefent  fay,  that  he  was  pulling  up  the 
boards  to  let  the  rioters  out  from  below,  and  his 
own  proper  evidence  did  not  go  fo  far.  Hands  was 
pardoned.  Such  were  not  the  proceedings  with 
refped  to  the  riot  in  London. 

Shuker,  who  had  been  condemned  for  firing  Mr. 

Ryland's  houfe,  abufed  J.  Elwall,  who  had  been  one 

of  the  witneffes  againft  him,  in  a  fhocking  manner, 

ftriking  him  on  the  head  with  his  cryer's  bell,  demo- 

G  2  lifhing 


84.  j^n  JJppcal  to  the  Public 

linking  his  fruit-ftall,  &c.  &c.  by  which  he  loft  more 
than  fifty  Ihillings.  When  he  applied  for  redrefs  to 
Dr.  Spencer  and  Mr.  Caries,  it  was  a  long  time  be- 
fore they  would  take  his  evidence,  on  the  pretence  of 
hi;5  not  being  able  to  produce  a  good  charader. 
When  diis  was  done,  in  the  moft  fatisfadory  manner, 
the  juftices  ftill  would  not  fign  any  warrant  againft 
Shuker,  but  contented  themfclves  with  admonifhing 
him  not  to  infult  Elwall  any  more,  on  which  Shuker 
behaved  in  the  moft  infolent  manner,  and  continued 
to  threaten  him. 

The  fame  Elwall  tvas  alfo  grofsly  infulted  by  one 
Davis,  and  others,  on  account  of  his  evidence  j  being 
burned  in  effigy  before  his  own  door,  and  his  fa- 
mily kept  in  a  ftate  of  alarm  feveral  nights  together ; 
and  lie  was  not  able  to  get  any  warrant  from  Mr. 
Carles,  to  whom  he  applied  for  protedion.  He 
alfo  applied,  but  in  vain,  to  Dr.  Spencer,  after 
Davis  had  threatened  to  murder  him  in  a  fortnight's 
time. 

Though  there  is  an  ai5t  of  parliament  to  indemnify 
thofe  who  fuffer  by  riots,  and  though  on  other  occa- 
Iions  it  has  been  fo  conftrued  as  to  afibrd  real  relief) 
fuch  was  the  fpirit  that  aduated  our  enemies,  and  fo 
fuccefsfully  did  they  exert  themfclves,  that  it  has 
been  ineffedual  in  our  cafe.  The  law  was  the  very 
llime  with  refped  to  us  and  the  Catholics  in  1780 ; 
but  the  illue  of  the  trials  was  very  diflerent.     All 

the 


On  the  Riots  in  'Birmingham.  85 

the  fufferers  in  London  obtained  ample  redrefs,  and 
the  rioters  were  rigoroufly  punifhed.  Money  was 
even  iffued  from  the  treafury  for  the  relief  of  the  iuf- 
ferers  immediately,  and  long  before  they  could  have 
received  any  in  the  ufual  courfe  of  juitice. 

In  the  very  fame  year  in  which  the  riot  v/as  at 
Birmingham,  there  was  another  at  Shtiiield,  and 
Mr.  Wiikinfon,  a  clergyman,  was  a  confiderabie 
fufFerer.  But  at  the  fame  affizes  in  which  we  met 
with  every  difficulty  that  could  be  thrown  in  the  way 
of  our  claims,  and  confequently  received  a  very  in- 
adequate cornpenfation,  Mr.  Wiikinfon  r^coverecl 
the  whole  of  his  lofs,  and  had  even  more  offered 
him  than  he  chofe  to  accept 3  being,  as  he  thought, 
more  than  the  real  amount  of  his  lofs.  In  his  cafe, 
the  hundred  made  no  oppofition  to  his  claim,  while 
in  pur  cafe  nothing  was  {pared  to  defeat  our  appli- 
cation for  redref?. 

Juflice  and  equity  evidently  require  that  lolfes  by 
riots  fliould  be  ipoft  amply  ijiade  good,  becaufe 
double  and  treble  recompence  in  a  pecuniary  way 
cannot  indemnify  the  fuiFerersj  and  becaufe  the 
great  objcdt  of  all  civil  government  is  protection 
from  lawlefs  violence.  It  was,  no  doubt,  the  inten- 
tion of  the  law-makers  to  give  ample  compenia- 
tion;  but  the  a6l  of  parliament  admitted  of  much 
latitude  of  interpretation,  and  in  its  literal  conflruc- 
tion  was  not  calculated  to  give  us  relief     When 

G  3  this 


86  An  Appeal  to  the  Fuhlic 

this  was  perceived,  nothing  was  more  reafonablc 
than  that  the  country  at  large  fhould  be  taxed  to 
fupply  the  deficiency,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
place,  which  had  been  difgraced  by  the  riot,  fhould 
have  promoted  an  application  to  the  legiflature  for 
our  farther  relief.  But  fo  far  was  this  from  beina 
the  cafe,  that  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
hundred  in  which  the  riots  took  place,  for  the  pur- 
pofe  of  defending  themfelves  againft  our  claims; 
and  they  executed  their  truft  fo  efFecTiually,  that  they 
even  put  the  hundred  to  confiderable  expence  to  do 
it.  It  is  even  fuppofed  that,  notwithftanding  their 
fuccefs  in  this  meafure,  by  which  they  reduced  our 
claims  between  one  fourth  and  one  third,  the  hun- 
dred will  have  little,  if  at  all,  lefs  to  pay  than  if  our 
claims  had  been  allowed  in  their  full  extent,  and 
no  oppofition  had  been  made  to  them, 

I  fhall  take  this  opportunity  to  ftate  my  own 
cafe,  which  was  fimilar  to  that  of  all  my  fellow- 
fufferers. 

My  own  wifh,  which  I  exprefled  to  my  friends, 
was  to  employ  no  lawyer  in  my  caufe,  but  Am- 
ply to  carry  into  the  court  a  ftatement  of  what, 
to  the  beft  of  my  recollection,  I  had  loft  in  the 
riot,  and  leave  the  country  to  make  me  whatever 
compenfation  they  fhould  think  proper.  In  this 
method,  however,  I  was  told  that  it  would  be  im- 
poffible  for  me  to  receive  any  compenfation  at  all. 

I  therefore 


On  the  Riofs  in  Birmingham.  8  7 

I  therefore  confented  to  do  what  the  other  fufFercrs 
did  upon  the  occafion,  getting  eftimates  of  what  I 
had  loft  by  fvvorn  appraifers,  and  other  competent 
Judges  of  the  different  articles  j  and  the  difficulty  and 
irkfomenefs  of  doing  tbis^  efpecially  in  the  multi- 
plicity of  articles  in  my  pardcular  cafe,  my  own  re- 
colleftion  being  uncommonly  imperfeft,  is  not  to  be 
defcribed;  without  confidering  the  time  which  it 
took  up,  which  no  fhranger  to  the  bufinefs  will  rea- 
dily believe. 

To  fave  fome  time,  trouble,  and  expence,  f 
propofed  to  the  Committee  who  a6led  for  the 
hundred,  by  a  clergyman,  and  a  particular .  friend 
of  mine,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  feveral 
of  them,  to  requeft  that  appraifers  on  their  fide 
might  meet  appraifers  on  mine  in  London,  and 
agree  on  the  amount  of  the  lofs.  But  this  reafon- 
able  requeft  was  refufed.  I,  however,  repeated  it  in 
as  refpeftful  a  letter  as  I  could  write  to  the  Com- 
mittee a  little  before  the  trial,  but  with  no  better 
fuccefsj  though  in  that  letter  I  mentioned  my  for- 
mer application,  and  afilired  them  that  all  the  ap- 
praifers had  been  inftru6led  by  me,  as  they  would 
all  bear  witnefs,  to  charge  too  little,  rather  than 
too  much,  for  every  article  j  but  that  I  would  wil- 
lingly abide  by  the  opinion  of  their  own  appraifers. 
I  alfo  menuoned  my  original  v/ifli,  to  have  employed 
no  lawyer  to  plead  for  me,  and  my  having  declined 
to  avail  myfclf  of  the  fervice  of  Mr,  Erildne,  or  any 

G  4  other 


88  y^n  appeal  to  the  Puhlic 

other  able  counfel  that  I  fhould  choofe,  which  my 
friends  propofed  to  be  at  the  expence  of;  and  that  I 
fhould  content  myfclf  with  fuch  counfel  as  the 
other  fufierers  would  employ,  and  which  ufuaiiy  at- 
tended that  circuit.  The  judge,  apprehenfive  of 
fome  difturbance  on  account  of  my  caufe,  exprefled 
his  wifh  that  it  might  be  fettled  by  arbitration.  To 
this  propofal  I  immediately  fignified  my  heaicy  con- 
fent,  and  my  willingnefs  to  abide  by  the  decifion  of 
the  foreman  of  the  jury,  thougli  a  high  churchman, 
and  a  perfon  with  w^hom  I  had  no  acquaintance. 
The  judge,  I  was  informed,  was  pleafed  with  this, 
but  it  was  not  accepted  by  the  oppofite  party.  Con- 
fequently  the  caufc  took  its  regular  courfe. 

My  books  were  eflimated  at  43  2I.  155.  6d.  my 
philofophical  apparatus  at  6C5I.  17s.  my  manufcripts 
at  370I.  15s.  and  my  houfehold  goods,  including 
whatever  could  be  appraifed  by  a  common  ap- 
praifer  in  my  library  and  laboratory,  as  Ihelves, 
&c.  &c.  &c.  1277I.  6s.  The  whole  was  2686I. 
13s.  6d.  But  this  was  far  from  being  the  whole  of 
my  lols,  or  of  the  indemnification  that  I  was  entitled 
to  receive,  on  the  idea  of  being  replaced  as  I  had 
been  before  on  the  fime  fpot,  which,  in  equity, 
ought  to  have  been  die  rule  of  proceeding  in  the 
cafe. 

Nothing  was  charged  for  the  carriage  and  pack- 
age of  fuch  things  as  could  only  have  been  pro- 
8  cured 


On  the  Riots  hi  Birmmg/jam.  89 

cured  from  London,  or  other  diilant  places ;  which 
in  my  cafe  could  not  have  been  lefs  than  40I  -,  no- 
thing for  damage  to  books  not  materially  mutilated, 
or  injured,  but  which  will  make  the  books  that  were 
preferved  (about  2000)  of  lefs  value,  if  ever  they  be 
fold,  by,  I  Ihould  fuppofe,  50I.  Nothing  was  charged 
for  the  recovery  of  goods  difperfed  by  the  rioters, 
which,  to  myfeif  or  my  friends,  could  not,  I  think, 
have  been  lefs  than  40I.  Nothing  was  charged  for 
pcmpbkfSy  which  I  think  muft  have  been  worth  loj. 
While  I  was  at  Warwick  I  recollefled  articles  in 
my  laboratory,  not  mentioned  in  the  inventory,  worth 
about  20I.  Now  that  I  am  refuming  my  experi- 
ments, I  recoiled  many  others  as  I  find  the  want  of 
them,  and  I  exped;  to  do  fo  for  fome  time  to  come. 
The  amount  of  thefe  I  fhould  conjedlure  to  be  aibout 
20I.  more.  The  leafe  of  mjy  houfe,  which  had 
rifen  much  in  value  after  I  took  it,  was  worth  at  the 
leaft  lool.  If  to  this  be  added  the  expence  attend- 
ing my  flight  from  Birmingham,  my  removal  to 
London  with  my  family,  and  the  carriage  of  the 
goods  I  recovered,  which  would  neceffarily  attend 
my  fettlement  in  a  place  fo  diftant  as  London, 
which  can  hardly  be  eftimated  at  lefs  than  lool.  the 
amount  of  the  ardcles  not  charged  in  my  eflimate, 
Vv'ill  be  3 Sol.  and  will  make  my  whole  lofs  to  be 
3066I.   13s.  6d. 

In  this   eftimate   nodiing  was   charged  for  my 
MSS.  more  than  the  money  that  would  have  been 

given 


po  j^n  Appeal  to  the  Public 

given  for  them  by  a  bookfeller  in  cafe  of  my  death. 
My  fermons,  for  inflance,  were  only  charged  half 
a  gijinea  apiece,  though  the  fermons  of  a  living 
preacher  ought,  in  ecuity,  to  be  charged  m.uch 
higher.  For  I  would  obfcrvT  on  this  occaficn,  that 
becaufe  the  law  can  give  no  recompence  i'jr  any  in- 
juries befides  money,  money  is  ofcen  given  when  the 
damage  is  by  no  means  of  a  pecuniary  nature ;  and 
there  can  be  no  reafon  why  this  Hiould  not  have  been 
done  in  my  cafe. 

When  we  were  at  Warwick,  and  found  we  had 
to  encounter  the  moft  determined  oppofition  of  our 
enemies,  who  came  prepared  to  litigate  every  arti- 
cle, and  that  the  law  itfeif,  rigoroufly  interpreted, 
as  it  would  be,  was  not  calculated  to  redrefs  our 
wrongs,  we  all  reduced  our  claims  much  below  our 
firfl  eftimates  *.    Mine,  including  that  for  my  houfe, 
which  I  had  on  leafe,  (eftimated  together  with  the 
lofs  of  rent,appraifements,  &c.  &c.  at  14-261.  3s.  3d. 
and  which,  though  not  properly  mine,  was  by  the 
rules  of  law  claimed   in   my  name)  was  reduced 
from  449 2I.  16s.  9d.  to  4112I.   16s.  9d.;  and  the 
verdi6l  I   obtained  was  2502I.    i8s. ;    of  v/hich   I 
could  not  do  better  than  allow  my  landlord  loool. 
befides  giving  up  my  leafe.     Confequently,  I  was,  ^ 


*  Previous  to  this  I  had  eniplo3ea  a  perfon  in  Birmingham  to  eili- 
matc  the  houfehold  goods ;  and  his  eltiiuate,  which  was  conruierably 
lower  than  that  «f  the  Loudon  appraiiers,  was  brought  into  Court. 


excluHvcly 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  9 1 

exclufively  of  cods,  really  a  lofer,  notwithflanding 
the  verdiiSt  In  my  favour,   1563I.  15s.  6d. 

The  amount  of  my  law  expences  at  Bu-mingham, 
Warwick,  and  London,  though  the  eftimate  of  my 
books  and  inftruments  was  made  by  perfons  who 
charged  nothing  for  their  trouble,  was  very  near 
850I.  while  the  coils  allowed  was  only  493I.  fo  that  in 
this  article  my  lofs  was  357I.  which  makes  the  whole 
g.mount  of  my  pecuniary  lofs  to  be  1920I.  15s.  6d. 
befides  being  driven  into  a  lefs  pleafmg  and  much 
more  expenfive  fituation  than  I  was  in  before.  In 
this  country  then,  the  government  of  which  is  fo 
much  boafted  of,  it  has  not  been  my  fate  to  receive 
either  proteftion,  or  redrefs,  and  all  my  fellow- 
fufferers  may  fay  the  fame. 

We  do  not  complain  of  the  intention  of  the  law, 
or  of  the  dilpofition  of  the  judges,  but  of  the  un- 
abated malice  of  our  enemies,  and  the  influence  they 
had  on  the  country  in  general.  They  fpared  no 
means  to  prevent  our  having  any  redrefs,  and  our 
fufferings  were  fo  far  from  foftening  them,  and  ex- 
citing any  degree  of  compafllon,  that  the  greateft 
fufferers  were  expofed  to  the  greateft  infults.  I 
hardly  know  an  inftance  of  any  men  deferving  bet- 
ter of  any  town  than  Mr.  RulTell  and  Mr.  Flutton, 
men  of  the  moft  difinterefted  public  fpirit,  and  in- 
defiitigable  in  public  bufinefsj  and  yet  they  were 
5  the 


9  2  j^n  Appeal  io  the  Pubfic 

the  perfons  on  v/hom  the  extreme  of  malice  and 
grofs  abufe  chiefly  fell.  But  fuch,  in  all  ages,  and 
in  all  countries,  has  been  the  fate  of  great  and  ac- 
tive worth. 

There  was  fomething  particularly,  and  moft  un- 
reafonably  hard  in  the  cafe  of  Mr.  Hutton.  Mr. 
Ruflell  and  myfelf  were  become  obnoxious  on  ac- 
count of  our  religious  principles,  and  therefore,  in 
the  eye  of  bigotry,  received  only  the  due  reward  of 
our  deeds;  but,  in  this  refpecSt,  Mr.  Hutton  had  done 
7iothing  amijs.  He  fufFered  the  extreme  of  injuftice 
himfelf,  for  nothing  but  his  unwearied  endeavour 
to  procure  juftice  for  others. 

For  the  beft  ufe  of  great  talents  for  public  bufi- 
nefs,  and  of  a  higher  kind  than  Mr.  Hutton  at- 
tended to,  I  have  not  yet  known  any  man  fuperior 
to  Mr.  Ruffell,  hardly  any  that,  in  all  refpecls,  I 
think  to  be  his  equals  and  the  malice  of  his  ene- 
mies is  in  full  propordon  to  his  talents  and  his 
virtues.  With  refped  to  damages  in  the  court,  he 
came  off  better  than  Mr.  Hutton. 

To  return  to  this  fubjed,  our  adveriarics  not 
content  with  the  counfel  that  ufually  attended  the 
circuit,  at  a  great  expence  employed  Mr.  Hardinge, 
the  Queen's  folicitor,  who  to  ferve  them  negleifled  his 
duty  as  a  judge  on  the  Welch  circuit,  and  v/ho  fpared 

nodiing 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  93 

nothing  to  inflame  the  court  and  the  juryagainft  iis; 
quoting  not  only  in  my  caufe,  but  in  thofe  of  the 
other  luiFerers,  paflages  from  my  writings  calculated 
to  reprefent  me  as  the  pell  of  fociety,  and  unworthy 
of  prote6lion  or  of  recompence.  The  firft  judge. 
Baron  Tliompfon,  endeavoured  in  vain  to  check 
his  violence,  and  therefore  Baron  Eyre,  it  is  thought, 
came  down  on  purpofe;  but  though  he  did  it  ii- 
the  caufes  of  the  other  fufferers,  when  my  own 
caufe  came  before  the  court  he  was  permitted  to 
declaim  againfl:  me  and  my  writings  (of  v^hich 
he  appeared  to  know  nothing  more  than  the  ex- 
tracts with  which  he  had  been  furnifhed  for  the  pur- 
pofe  of  his  abufe)  without  any  reilraint,  though 
there  was  nothing  properly  before  the  court  but  the 
cftimate  of  damages  occafioned  by  the  riotj  and 
if  I  had  been  guilty  of  fedition,  1  ought  to  have 
been  accufed  as  fuch,  and  fuffered  the  penalty  of 
tlie  law. 

The  legal  proof  of  the  articles  of  my  lofs  v/as 
peculiarly  difficult,  from  the  nature  and  multiplicity 
of  them ;  nothing  of  the  kind  having  ever,  as  I 
believe,  come  before  a  court  of  judicature  before. 
It  was  deemed  neceflary  that  I  fhould  prove  my 
having  been  in  pofleflion  of  more  than  a  thoufand 
different  articles,  and  at  the  time  of  the  riot.  One 
friend  or  other  could  have  attefted  my  having  had 
mofl  of  the  inftruments,  though  not  the  chymical 

fubftances; 


94-  ^^^^  Appeal  to  the  Public 

fubfiances;  but  it  was  nccefTary  they  fhould  all  ht 
prefent  in  court.  Their  certificates  in  writing  (and 
for  this  purpofe  I  came  provided  with  them,  in  the 
hand-writing  of  Dr.  Heberden  and  others,  who  at 
different  times  had  made  me  prefents  of  them)  were 
rejefted  as  no  legal  evidence ;  and  when  a  number  of 
articles  in  my  laboratory  v/ere  clalled  together,  the  op- 
pofite  counfel  diverted  themfelves  and  the  court,  ex- 
pofing  their  own  ignorance,  juft  as  fo  many  Goths 
and  Vandals  would  have  done.  My  own  leading  coun- 
fel was  as  little  qualified  to  defend  me,  being  equally 
ignorant  of  philofophy,  and  declaring  in  court  that 
he  had  not  read  any  of  my  theological  or  political 
writings. 

The  judge,  though  no  chymift,  was  willing  to 
make  allowance  for  the  fingular  difficulty  in  my 
caufe,  as  both  the  catalogue  of  my  books,  and  the 
index  of  fubllances  in  the  laboratory,  were  deftroyed, 
together  with  the  books  and  inftrumentsi  and  had 
any  regard  been  paid  to  his  opinion,  confiderably 
more  would  have  been  awarded  me.  On  what 
principle  the  jury  proceeded  is  belt  known  to  them- 
felves, but  I  believe  that  very  little  was  allowed  for 
my  books,  becaufe  many  of  them  were  deftroyed 
in  another  hundred,  whither  they  had  been  conveyed 
by  my  friends,  though  the  deftruflion  began  at  my 
own  houfe,  and  they  did  not  fay  what  claim  I  had 

on  the  other  luir.Jred. 

In 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingljam,  95 

In  general  I  thought  the  judge  impartial  in  fum- 
ming  up  the  evidence  ;  but  in  fome  refpecls,  confi.- 
dering  the  manifeft  difpofition  of  the  jury,  it  tended 
to  give  too  mucli  colour  to  their  injuftice.  The 
catalogue  of  my  library  being  deftroyed,  together 
with  the  library  itfelf,  I  could  only  make  out  a  lift 
of  the  books  that  were  wandng  from  my  own  recol- 
ledlion  of  them,  my  friends  not  being  able  to  atteil 
their  knowledge  of  more  than  a  few  of  them,  luch 
as  they  had  occafionally  feen  or  borrowed,  though  xlvc 
number  of  the  books  loft  v/as  fufficiendy  afcertaincd. 
"  This  enumeration,"  faid  the  judge,  "  coming 
"  from  the  plaintiff  himfelf,  and  not  proved  by  any 
"  witnefs,  I  was  bound  to  reje6t  evidence  of  that 
"  kind,  and  could  not  fufter  it  to  be  received." 
Mr.  Payne,  my  witnefs,  had  fet  a  value  upon  440 
other  volumes,  which  were  proved  to  be  miffing 
(though  I  could  not  myfelf  pretend  to  recoiled 
what  they  were)  by  fuppofing  them  to  be  of  the 
fame  value^  one  with  another,  with  books  of  the 
fame  fize  in  what  remained  of  the  library.  This, 
the  judge  faid,  v/as  "  no  meafure  of  value  at  all,  as 
"  it  was  imipoffible  fo  to  eftimate  books ;  and  there- 
"  fore  he  found  himfelf  bound  to  reject  that  evi- 
"  dencei"  adding,  however,  that  "  as  the  plaintiff 
*'  could  not  have  been  fuppofed  to  have  collected 
"  trafli,  the  jury  might,  if  they  thought  prcpej-y  make 
"  Ibme  addition  to  the  fum,  upon  the  ground  of  da- 
"  mage  to  the  library."  But,  difpofed  as  they  evi- 
dently v.'cre,  they  were  lure  to  allow  nothing  on  tliis 

account. 

G  8  I  have 


96  j^n  Appeal  to  the  Puhlic 

I  have  hecird  of  a  judge  deciding  very  differently 

in  a  cafe  not  much  unlike  this  of  mine. A  boy 

had  been  robbed  of  a  feal  which  had  contained  fome 
precious  ftone,  of  the  nature  and  value  of  which  the 
boy  himfelf  was  wlioUy  ignorant,  being  oniy  able  to 
produce  the  focket  in  wliich  it  had  been  let.  The 
judge,  however,  obferved,  that  the  cafe  lliould  be 
interpreted  in  dammim  fraiidatcris  -,  and  he  directed 
that  the  boy  fhould  receive  the  value  of  the  fined 
diamond  that  v/ould  fill  that  focket,  bccaufe  the 
ftone  raight  have  been  of  that  value. 

Mr.  Hardinge  alfo  (whofe  virulent  declamadon 
the  judge  himfelf  obferved  might,  for  any  thing 
that  appeared  in  court,  be  mere  calumny)  fhould 
not  have  been  fuffered  to  proceed  as  he  did,  fince 
it  could  only  tend  to  prejudice  the  minds  of  the 
jury  againft  me,  and  indifpofe  them  to  do  juftice. 
His  abufe  of  me  was  exafliy  fimilar  to  that  of  Mr. 
Wedderburn's  (now  Lord  Loughborough)  on  Dr. 
Franklin  at  the  privy  council,  when  the  caufe  be- 
fore the  court  related  to  the  conduft  of  the  gover- 
nor of  the  province.  It  was  a  day  of  great  triumph 
fjr  the  court  party.  But  had  they  any  reafon  to 
exult  in  it  ten  years  from  that  time  ?  As  little  rea- 
fon may  the  Church  and  King  party  in  this  country 
have  to  exult  in  the  riot  at  Birmingham,  and 
the  affizes  at  Warwick,  ten  years  from  that 
event. 

I  was 


0;/  the  Riots  in  Birmiitgham.  9  7 

I  was  prefcnt  at  that  memorabk  abufe  of  Dr. 
Franklin,  being  accompanied  to  the  privy  council 
by  Mr.  Burke:  he  fmiled,  and  ihook  me  by  the  hand, 
as  he  went  out  of  the  rooms  and  the  next  morning 
he  obferved  to  me,  that  the  things  for  which  he 
had  been  fo  grofsiy  infulted  were,  he  believed, 
among  the  beft  actions  of  his  life,  and  fuch  as  he 
fhouid  do  again  in  the  fame  circumftances.  I  can 
truly  fay  the  fame  with  refpeft  to  every  thing  that 
has  been  mofl;  virulently  urged  againft  me. 

On  the  whole,  it  is  evident  that,  by  whatever  rule 
the  jury  at  Warwick  went,  they  allowed  me  little  or 
nothing  for  my  books,  philofophical  inflruments,  or 
manufcripts,  as  the  fum  that  was  awarded  me  would 
do  little  more  than  re-furnilli  the  houfe  as  it  was 
before.  They  refufed  to  fay  what  they  allowed 'for 
the  feparate  articles  of  my  lofs,  except  on  account 
Q){  the  hoiije)  which  I  was  under  obligation  to  rebuild. 
For  this,  which  was  not  mine,  it  was  thought  by 
fome  that  the  allowance  was  ample  enough,  being 
957I.  1 8s. 

This  detail  I  thought  neceflary  to  go  into,  in  or- 
der to  explain  the  confequences  of  the  riot,  and  the- 
ftate  of  our  laws,  and  of  the  aftual  adminiftration 
of  them  in  my  cafe,  that  thofe  wlio  think  it  a  pro- 
per objeft  may  provide  a  more  effectual  remedy  for 
a  fimilar  evil  in  future  time. 

II  I  mult 


pB  j^n  uippcal  to  the  Public 

I  mufl  add,  that  though  the  mifchier  was  done 
more  than  a  year  ago,  I  have  not  yet  (Nov.  i, 
1792)  received  any  part  of  the  compenfation  awarded 
me,  and  yet  I  have  been  obliged  to  advance  the 
whole  cxpence  of  the  iaw-fuit;  fo  that,  if  any 
allowance  be  made  for  the  intereft  of  money,  my 
pecuniary  lofs  will  be  confiderably  greater  than  I 
have  dated  it  to  be.  If  I  had  not  been  affifted 
by  my  friends,  I  could  not  have  profecuted  my 
right  at  all,  and  therefore  mud  have  gone  with- 
out any  redrefs.  And  fo  much  trouble  and  expence 
have  attended  this  bufinefs,  that  in  cafe  of  any  other 
misfortune  of  the  fame  kind  (from  which  I  am 
far  from  confidering  myfelf  as  exempt)  my  pre- 
fent  determination  is  to  fit  down  widi  the  lofs, 
and  not  to  trouble  the  country  on  the  fubjeft. 
The  law,  as  now  adminiftered,  may  do  all  very  well 
for  churchmen,  but  I  have  found  by  experience  that 
it  is  not  calculated  to  protedt  Diflenters,  as  fuch, 
or  to  procure  a  redrefs  of  the  wrongs  done  to 
them. 


SECTION 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham..  99 


SECTION     X. 

'Of  the  Approbation  of  the  Riot,  and  the  Extent  of 
High  Church  PrincipleSy  which  were  the  Cauje  of 
ity  in  other  Parts  of  the  Kingdom. 

1  H  E  Ipirit  of  party,  intimately  connefled 
with  the  approbation  of  the  riot  in  Birmingham,  is 
even  now  far  from  being  confined  to  that  town  or 
neighbourhood,  efpecially  among  the  clergy.  One 
of  the  moft  fpeaking  and  curious  inilances  of  this  is 
the  following.  A  clergyman,  diftinguifhed  by  his 
writings,  requefted  another  clergyman,  who  was 
going  to  Birmingham,  to  procure  him  a  quantity  of 
afhes  from  the  ruins  of  the  meeting  in  which  I  had 
preached  J  and  the  requeft  was  complied  with. 
What  an  excellent  Protejtant  Dominic  would  this 
clergyman  make ! 

So  far  were  the  clergy  from  being  moved  to  any 
thing  like  compafTion  by  v.'hat  I  had  fuffered  in  the 
riot,  that  immediately  aiter  this  their  calumnies  were 
doubled,  and  their  cries  for  farther  vengeance  upon 
me  became  louder  than  ever.  An  inftance  of  this 
is  an  ex.tracft  from  the  Shrewsbury  Chronicle,  figned 
OTAEIS  AETTEPOS,  v/hich  may  be  feen  in  the  Ap- 
pendix, No.  VIII. 

H  2  This 


1 00  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

This  virulent  paper  was,  however,  very  ably  an- 
fwered  by  a  perfon  whofe  fignature  was  Jn  enemy  to 
intolerance  and  perjecutlon^  though  he  avowed  reli- 
gious fentiments  very  different  from  mine. 

Mr.  Burn  fcems  to  doubt  the  truth  of  what  I  faid 
of  a  clergyman  calling  our  fufferings  in  an  Afiize 
fermon  wholefome feverity.  "  Had  he,"  he  fays,  p.  73, 
"  been  a  Birmingham  clergyman,  we  have  no 
"  doubt  his  name  would  have  appeared."  I  do  not 
fee  why  I  lliould  be  more  backward,  or  more  ready, 
to  mention  his  name  on  this  account.  But  the  fer- 
mon is  now  publiflied,  though  without  the  name  of 
the  author,  which  was  Allen,  v/ho  refides  at  or  near 
Illford.  The  exprelTion  in  the  fermon  as  now  printed 
is  not  the  very  fame  that  was  reported,  but  to  the 
fame  purport.  He  was,  however,  properly  repri- 
manded for  what  he  delivered  by  the  judge  and  the 
counfel  afterwards. 

That  the  fame  fpirit  which  prompted  the  riot  in 
Birmingham  pervaded  very  dillant  parts  of  the 
country,  the  following  is  a  curious  inftance.  Dur- 
ing the  riot  at  Birmingham  fome  officers  were 
in  converfation  at  Dulot's  library  at  Brighthelm- 
ftohe,  when  one  of  them  was  overheard  to  fay  (on 
its  being  fuggefted  that  it  was  probable  his  re- 
giment would  be  fcnt  to  Birmingham  to  quell  the 
rioters)  that  he  hoped  if  his  men  were  fent  thither 

that 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  loi 

that  they  would  not  hurt  a  hair  of  any  of  the  rioters 
heads. 

Another  officer  (fuppofed  to  be  of  the  guards) 
was  heard  to  declare  at  Crawford's  library  at  Bright- 
helmftone,  that  it  was  to  be  lamented  that  Dr. 
Priefhley  had  efcaped  j  and  that,  if  he  had  been  at 
Birmingham,  he  would  have  gone  through  the  fire, 
at  the  hazard  of  lofing  a  lir.ib^  but  that  the  Do6lor 
fhould  have  loft  his  life.  I  am  perfuaded,  however, 
that  the  difpofidon  of  thofe  pardcular  perfons  is  far 
from  being  that  of  the  generality  of  Bricifh  officers: 
they  have,  I  truft,  better  notions  of  the  Briufh  con- 
ftitution,  and  of  that  Briiiih  liberty  which  they  are 
appointed  to  defend. 

The  idea  that  was  generally,  and  moft  affiduoufly, 
propagated  concerning  me,  and  the  tendency  of 
my  writings,  by  thofe  of  v/hom  the  beft  that  can  be 
faid  is,  that  they  knew  nothing  of  either,  may  be 
conceived  from  an  epitaph  that  was  written  for  me, 
as  was  fuppofed,  by  fome  perfon  at  Exeter,  and 
which,  for  the  amufement  of  my  readers,  I  Ihall  in* 
fert  in  the  Appendix,  No.  IX. 

The  perfon  who  tranfmltted  this  curious  piece  to 
a  friend  of  m.ine  adds,  "  The  virulence  of  the  above 
*'  is  nearly  equalled,  if  not  furpalTed,  by  what  I 
"  have  been  informed  are  the  fentiments  very  fre- 
**  qucntly  uttered  by  the  diffipated  and  the  profane 
H  3  "  bigots 


102  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

^^  bigots  of  Briftol,  and  in  all  parts  of  the  king- 
**  dom,  viz.  for  the  firft  fcntiment  at  table,  Damna-^ 
"  tion  to  Dr.  Priejlleyy  and  Jiiccejs  to  the  Birmingham 
*'  mohy  or  Damnation  to  Dr.  Priejileyt  and  dejlruotion 
"  to  his  writings." 

Hereafter  it  will  perhaps  not  be  believed  that 
fuch  barefaced  mifreprefcntation  and  calumny,  fo 
entirely  void  of  all  foundation,  could  be  publifhed 
in  a  country  in  which  the  means  of  better  informa- 
tion almoft  obtrudes  itfelf     Such  pains,   however, 
has  been  taken  to  reprefent  me  as  an  infidel  with  re- 
fped  to  religion,  and  a  mod  peftilent  member  of 
fociety,  that  I  doubt  not  a  great  maiority  of  the 
people  of  this  country  aflually  confider  miC  in  thaP 
light,  the  avowed  enemy  of  God  and  man.    But  this 
will  not  be  thought  extraordinary  when  it  is  confi- 
dered  how  great  a  proportion  of  the  information  of 
Englifnmen  is  derived  from  the  public  newfpapers, 
and  how  many  of  them  have  abounded  with  para- 
graphs exhibiting  me  in  this  light  from  {'omQ  time  be- 
fore the  riot,  and  to  diis  day.  I  am  tempted  to  give  a 
fpecimen  of  this  which  fell  into  my  hands  by  acci- 
dent, and  I  prefume  it  is  only  of  a  piece  with  hun- 
dreds of  others  i  biit  I  referve  it  for  the  Appendix, 
No.  X. 

That  fome  perfons  muft  make  it  the  Interefl  of 
$he  proprietors  of  the  newfpapers  to  procure,  and 
iqfert,  fuch  articles  might  be   concluded  a  priori. 

But 


On  the  Riois  in  B'trmmgham.  103 

But  an  acquaintance  of  mine,  being  defired  to  fettle 
a  difference  between  two  of  thefe  proprietors,  faw  a 
lift  of  names  of  perfons  to  be  abufed,  and  among 
diem  was  mine.  Of  what  clafs  of  newfpapers  this 
was  I  need  not  fay. 

Such  an  unfair  advantage,  taken  to  prejudice  the 
minds  of  the  people  againd  particular  perfons  or 
parties,  is  a  circumftance  that  calls  loudly  for  public 
inquiry,  and  punifhment,  by  the  reprefentatives  of 
the  nation,  who  ought,  as  far  as  pofTible,  to  provide 
for  the  proteftion  of  the  charaifter,  as  well  as  the 
property,  of  every  individual  of  the  fociety. 

The  latter  part  of  this  paper  relates  to  an  impu- 
dent falfhood  that  has  been  much  circulated,  though 
it  refledls  difgrace  upon  the  late  Dr.  Johnfon,  and 
not  upon  me,  viz.  that  when  I  was  at  Oxford,  he 
left  a  company  on  my  being  introduced  to  it.  In 
fail,  we  never  were  at  Oxford  at  the  fatne  time,  and 
the  only  interview  I  ever  had  with  him  was  at  Mr. 
Paradife's,  where  we  dined  together  at  his  own  re- 
queft.  He  was  particularly  civil  to  me,  and  pro- 
mifed  to  call  upon  me  the  next  time  he  fhould  go 
through  Birmingham.  He  behaved  with  the  fame 
civility  to  Dr.  Price,  when  they  fupped  together  at 
Dr.  Adams's,  at  Oxford.  Several  circumilances 
fhew  that  Dr.  Johnfon  had  not  fo  much  of  bigotry 
at  the  decline  of  life,  as  had  diflinguifhed  him  be- 
fore, on  which  account  it  is  well  known  to  ail  our 
H  4  common 


104  ^n  Appeal  to  the  Public 

common  acquaintanccj  that  I  declined  all  their  preff- 
ing  foiicitations  to  be  introduced  to  him.  It  were 
to  be  wifned  that  the  church  of  England  would  re- 
femble  Dr.  Johnibn  in  growing  milder  and  more 
tolerant  in  its  old  age;  but,  on  the  contrary,  like 
moil  other  aged  perfons,  ihc  Teems  to  grow  more 
peevifh  and  obftinate. 

I  do  not  know,  however,  whedier,  on  the  whole, 
the  general  prevalence  of  the  High  Church  party  in 
this  country  is  more  clearly  manifefted  than  by  its 
having  pervaded  focieties  oi'  phiio/opbe^'Sy  with  whomj 
in  that  capacity,  I  certainly  did  not  Hand  ill. 

I  obferved  in  my  Appeal,  that  the  only  fociety, 
not  profeficdiy  fjrmed  on  the  principle  of  civil  or 
religious  liberty,  that  had  adureffed  me  on  occafion 
of  the  riot,  was  the  phiiofophical  fociety  at  Derby, 
Vv'hofe  Addrefs  I  infcrted  in  my  Appendix.  Jt  ftiil 
fcands  a  fingle  inftance  of  the  kind.  Mr.  Rofe,  a 
plergyman,  aqd  member  of  diat  focietyj  was,  hew- 
ever,  fo  much  offended  at  it,  that,  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  fociety,  he  publiflied  an  account 
of  the  manner  in  which  it  had  been  done,  calculated 
to  defeat  the  effe6t  of  it.  llie  other  members  of 
that  fociety  had  the  fpirit  to  refent  it  properly,  and 
to  exclude  him  from  the  fociety.  I  fliall  inf^rt  his 
Advertifetnenti  and  the  Anfiver  of  the  fociety,  in  my 
Appendix,  No.  XL  and  XII. 

The 


0/2  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  105 

The  philofophlcal  fociety  at  Manchefter  had  not 
the  fame  liberality.  Though  they  had  not  only  done 
me  the  honour  to  make  me  one  of  their  mem- 
bers, but  had  prefented  me  with  fifty  pounds  to 
affift  me  in  defl-aying  the  expence  of  my  experi- 
ments ;  yet  when  it  was  propofed  to  addrefs  me  on 
the  deftru&ion  of  my  laboratory,  and  it  was  pro- 
pofed that  nothing  ihould  be  contained  in  the  Ad- 
drefs that  fhould  imply  any  approbation  of  my  civil 
or  religious  principles,  the  motion  was  negatived  by 
a  Gonfiderable  majority. 

One  of  the  reafons  alledged  at  Manchefter  againfl: 
the  propofed  Addrefs  was,  that  none  had  been  fent 
to  me  from  the  Royal  Society.  Many  perfons  have 
exprefled  their  furprife  that  I  had  no  letter  of  con- 
dolence, or  even  pecuniary  afTiftance,  from  that  bo- 
dy, to  which  I  hope  I  have  been  no  difgrace.  I 
have  even  been  infulted  by  the  High  Church  party 
on  this  account,  Had  it  been  a  clergyman  of  the 
church  of  England  who  had  been  a  member  of  that 
body,  and  whofe  laboratory  had  been  dellroyed  by 
rioters,  v/hether  his  labours  had  contributed  any 
thing  or  nothing  to  the  Itock  of  philcfophical  know- 
ledge, his  cafe,  I  doubt  not,  would  have  been  corifi- 
dered  by  the  opulent  members  of  the  fociety,  or  the 
patron  of  it.  But  I  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  political  principles  of  that  fociety  to  expe6b  any 
thing  of  the  kind  in  my  favour.  Had  I  been  a  fe- 
coijd  Newton,  and  what  I  am,  and  cannot  help  be- 


I  o6  Jln  Appeal  to  the  Public 

ing  in  other  refpefts,  viz.  an  Unitarian  DiiTenter,  my 
expectations  from  that  quarter  v/ould  not  have  been 

ihl';?:her. 

I  had  fufficient  evidence  of  this  in  the  rejedion  of 
Mr.  Cooper,  though  originally  recommended  by 
Mr.  Kirwan,  Dr.  Crawford,  Mr.  Watfon,  and  Mr. 
Watt,  as  Vy'cli  as  rayfelf.  As  Mr.  Cooper's  general 
abilities  appear  by  his  publications  to  be  of  the 
higheft  order*,  and  his  acquaintance  with  philoibphy 
and  chemifcry  was  well  known,  it  was  evident  that 
his  reieCUon  could  not  have  been  owing  to  any 
thing  but  his  religious  or  political  principles,  with 
which  a  phiiofophical  fociety  had  no  concern.  So 
confident  was  I  of  the  merit  of  Mr.  Cooper,  and  of 
the  fufficiency  of  his  recommendation,  not  by  gentle- 
wen  memherSi  but  by  fcientifical  perfons,  that  I  had 
not  entertained  the  leait  doubt  of  his  eleftion,  and 
was  never  more  furprifed  than  when  I  heard  that  it 
did  not  rake  place. 

Thinking  that  a  phiiofophical  fociety  might,  on 
reconfideradon,  repent  of  having  rejected  a  man 
fo  recommended  to  diem,  Mr.  Cooper's  friends 
thou"-ht  it  right  to  propofe  him  a  fecond  time ;  and 
to  the  former  fignatures  of  his  certificate  the  follow- 
ino-  were  added,  viz.  Mr.  Boulton,  Mr.  Wedge- 
v^ood,   and  Sir  G.  Staunton  ^    and  as  it  had  been 

*  See  his  'voliifne  cfTrn8s\  his  E^'ays  m  the  iMemoirs  of  the 
jManchifter  Phiiofophical  and  Livcrary  Society  j  ajid  his  Re'dy  to 
Mr.  Biirh's  lavcdlrje.  ,  •    n     i 

objected 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham.  107 

objefted  before,  that  the  members  of  the  fociety  hi 
Manchefter,  where  he  refided,  had  not  figned  his 
certificate,  they  now  all  joined  in  it,  viz.  Mr.  Bay- 
ley,  Dr.  Percival,  Dr.  Whire,  and  Mr.  Henry. 
Notwithilanding  thefe  addidonal  fignatures,  when 
the  day  of  balloting  came,  he  v/as  rejedled  by  a 
much  greater  majority  than  before. 

The  ten  who  figned  Mr.  Cooper's  certificate 
(without  arrogadng  any  thing  to  myfelf,  who  firft 
propofed  it  to  him)  are  iinquellionably  among  the 
firft  in  the  lift  of  members  for  reputation  as  philo- 
phers  i  and  if  about  as  many  more  were  added  to 
them,  the  reft  are,  I  do  not  fay  improper  members, 
but  fuch  as  the  philofophical  part  of  the  world  has 
not  yet  heard  much  of  When  this  is  confidered, 
and  that  Mr.  Keir,  and  other  truly  effeftive  and  dif- 
tinguifhed  members  of  the  fociety,  would  have 
figned  Mr.  Cooper's  certificate  if  they  could  have 
faid,  that  they  had  -perjcnal  knowledge  of  him  (whicii 
the  rules  of  the  fociety  require)  I  do  not  feel  my- 
felf difgraced  for  having  recommended  him,  no^: 
does  he  for  being  rejeded, 

It  has  fmce  been  objefted  to  Mr.  Cooper,  that  he 
is  concerned  in  a  manufadory ;  but  when  he  was 
firft  propofed,  his  profefTion  was  that  of  a  barrifter  at 
law,  though  his  purfuits  were  then  chiefly  literary  and 
philofophical.  Having  fufficient  leifure,  his  know- 
ledge of  chemiftry  induced  him  to  join  in  a  bleaching 

manufadory 


To8  Ah  Appeal  to  the  Public 

manufaclory  on  the  new  principles.  On  the  whole,  I 
cannot  lielp  confidering  the  rejection  of  Mr.  Cooper, 
recommended  as  he  was,  hy  the  Royal  Society  as  a 
inoft  decifive  proof  of  the  influence  of  High  Church 
principles  in  this  country  on  a  body  of  rhen  who 
jnight  be  expelled  to  be  the  moft  liberal.  Mr. 
Cooper,  though  originally  educated  at  Oxford,  now 
ckiTes  v/ith  Unitarian  Diflenters  :  he  has  given  noble 
proofs  of  his  public  principles,  and  his  public  fpirit, 
and  he  has  been  ftigmatized  by  Mr.  Burke. 

It  were  to  be  willied  that  the  Roy.il  Society 
would  make  feme  more  explicit  declaration  of  the 
proper  qualilications  of  their  members.  Some  time 
ago  an  excellent  naturalifb,  Mr.  Rafpe,  was  expelled 
for  breaking  the  eighth  commandment,  of  which  it 
was  not  known  before  that  the  members  of  the  Royal 
Society  were  the  guardians.  This  would  not,  how- 
ever, have  been  perhaps  fo  much  amifs,  if  the  faft  had 
I- .en  proved :  but  the  expulfion  had  too  mruch  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  royal  mandate.  Who  can  tell  but 
that  other  members  may  be  propofed  to  be  expelled 
for  breaking  the  feventh,  or  even  the  tenth  com- 
mandment ?  Mr.  Cooper's  moral  charader,  how- 
ever, is  irreproachable  i  fo  that  his  difqualification 
mufl  be  of  another  kind.  At  leaft  he  cannot  be 
charged  with  a  breach  of  the  firft  commandment. 

In  thefe   remarks  on  the  Royal  Society  I  mean 
no  refleilion  on  any  particular  member,  and  leaf!:  of 

ali 


On  the  Riots  in  Birminghani.  109 

all  on  the  prefident,  who  in  feveral  important  re- 
fpects  fills  his  ftation  in  a  manner  highly  honourable 
to  the  fociety  and  to  himfelf.  This  is  an  opinion 
that  I  always  maintained,  when  feveral  of  my  parti- 
cular friends  thought  differently.  If  the  fociety 
muft  be  both  philofophical  and  royal,  I  do  not  know 
where  we  could  find  a  more  proper  prefident. 

I  am  happy  to  be  able,  by  the  affillance  of  my 
friends,  to  have  in  fome  meafure  replaced  my  ap- 
paratus, and  I  am  now  refuming  my  experiments. 
I  have,  indeed,  loft  more  than  a  whole  year,  be- 
fides,  in  fome  refpecls,  the  reililt  of  the  labour  of 
feveral  years ;  but  while  I  live,  I  Ihall  continue  my 
experiments  as  I  have  formerly  done  -,  and  if  any 
thing  worth  the  notice  of  the  public  fhould  occur  to 
me,  I  fhall  communicate  it  through  the  cliannel  of 
the  Royal  Society,  provided  they  v/ill  receive  my 
papers.  I  fnali  not  quarrel  with  the  inftitution  on 
account  of  the  prefent  adminiftration  of  its  affkirs. 
The  times  may  change,  and  that  circumftance  may 
change  vv'ith  them. 

In  diis  almoft  univerfal  prevalence  of  a  ipirit  fb 
extremely  hofiile  to  me  and  my  friends,  and  which 
would  be  gratified  by  my  deftrudion,  it  cannot  be  . 
any  matter  of  furprife,  that  a  fon  of  mine  fiiould  vv^iili 
to  abandon  a  country  in  which  his  father  has  been 
ufed  as  I  have  been,  efpecially  when  it  is  confidered 

tliat 


1 10  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

that  this  fon  was  prelent  at  the  riot  in  Birming- 
ham, exerting  himfelf  all  the  dreadful  night  of  the 
14th  of  July>  to  fave  what  he  could  of  my  mod 
valuable  property;  that  in  confequence  of  this  his 
life  was  in  imminent  danger,  and  another  young 
man  was  nearly  killed  becaufe  he  was  miftaken  for 
him.  This  would  probably  have  been  his  fate,  if 
a  friend  had  not  almoft  perforce  kept  him  concealed 
fome  days,  lb  that  neither  myfelf  nor  his  mother 
knew  v.'hat  was  become  of  him.  I  had  not,  how- 
ever, the  ambition  to  court  the  honour  that  has 
been  fhewn  him  by  the  national  affembly  of  France, 
and  even  declined  the  propofal  of  his  naturaliza- 
tion. At  the  moftj  I  fuppofed  it  would  have  been 
done  without  any  eclat  3  and  I  knew  nothing  of  its 
being  done  in  fo  very  honourable  a  way  till  I  faw 
the  account  in  the  public  newfpapers.  To  what- 
ever country  this  fon  of  mine  fnall  choofe  to  attach 
himfelfj  I  truft  that,  from  the  good  principles,  and 
the  fpiritj  that  he  has  hitherto  fliewn,  he  will  dif- 
charge  the  duties  of  a  good  citizen. 

As  to  myfelf,  I  cannot  be  fuppofed  to  feel  much 
attachment  to  a  country  in  v.'hich  1  have  neither 
found  protedlion,  nor  redrefs.  But  I  am  too  old, 
and  my  habits  too  fixed,  to  remove,  as  I  own  J  fhould 
otherwife  have  been  difpofed  to  do,  to  France,  or 
America.  The  little  that  I  am  capable  of  doing  rauft 
be  in  England,  where  I  fhall  therefore  continue,  as 

long 


On  the  Riots  in  Birmingham,  1 1 1 

long  as  it  fliould  pleafc  the  fupreme  Difpofer  of  all 
things  to  permit  me  *. 

It  might  have  been  thought  that,  haying  written 
{o  much  in  defence  of  revelation,  and  of  Chrif- 
tianity  in  general,  more  perhaps  than  all  the  clergy 
of  the  church  of  England  now  living  j  this  defence 
of  a  common  cauje  would  have  been  received  as  fome 
atonement  for  my  dem.erics  in  writing  againft  civil  efta- 
blilhments  of  Chriftianity,  and  pardcular  do(5trines. 
But  had  I  been  an  open  enemy  of  all  religion,  the 
animofity  againft  me  could  not  have  been  greater 
than  it  is.  Neither  Mr.  Hume  nor  Mr.  Gibbon 
was  a  thoufandth  part  fo  obnoxious  to  the  clergy  as 
I  am ;  fo  little  refpcd:  have  nriy  enemies  for  Chriftia- 
nity itfelf,  compared  with  what  they  have  for  their 
emoluments  from  it. 

As  to  my  fuppofed  hoftility  to  the  principles  of 
the  civil  conftitution  of  this  country,  there  has  been 
no  pretence  whatever  for  charging  me  with  any 
thing  of  the  kind.  Befides  that  the  very  catalogue 
of  my  publications  will  prove  that  my  life  has  been 
devoted  to  literature,  and  chiefly  to  natural  philo- 
fophy  and  theology,  which  have  not  left  me  any 
leifure  for  fadtious  politics  ■■,  in  the  few  things  that  I 

*  since  this  was  written,  I  h:ive  rnyfelf,  witliout  any  felicitation 
on  my  part,  been  made  a  citizen  oi"  France,  and  mcreovcr  elefted  a 
member  of  the  prefent  Conventional  Allerably.  'I  hefe,  I  fcruple  not 
to  avow,  1  confider  as  the  greatell  of  honours ;  though,  {or  the  rea- 
fons  which  are  now  made  public,  I  have  declined  accepting  the 
latter. 

H  8  have 


1 1 2  An  Appeal  to  the  Public 

have  written  of  a  political  nature,  I  have  been  an 
avowed  advocate  for  our  mixed  government  by 
King^  herds ^  and  Ccmmcns ;  but  becaufe  I  have  ob- 
jefled  to  the  ecclefiaftical  part  of  it,  and  to  par- 
ticular religious  tenets,  I  have  been  induflrioufly 
reprefented  as  openly  feditious,  and  endeavouring 
the  overthrow  of  every  thing  that  infixed,  the  enemy 
of  all  order,  and  of  all  government. 

Every  publication  which  bears  my  name  is  in  fa- 
vour of  our  prefent  form  of  government.  But  if 
I  had  not  thought  f^j  highly  of  it,  and  had  feen  rea- 
fon  for  preferring  a  more  republican  form,  and 
had  openly  advancifd  that  opinion  3  I  do  not  know 
that  the  propofing  to  free  difcuffion  a  fyftem  of  go- 
vernment different  from  that  of  England,  even  to 
Englifhmcn,  vs.  any  crime,  according  to  the  exiiling 
laws  of  this  country.  It  has  always  been  thought, 
at  leafl,  that  our  confiitution  authorifes  the  free  pro- 
pofal,  and  dircufilcn,  of  ail  theoretical  principles 
v/hatever,  political  ones  not  excepted.  And  though  I 
might  now  recommend  a  very  different  form  of  go- 
vernment to  a  people  who  had  no  previous  preju- 
dices or  habits,  the  cafe  is  very  different  with  rc- 
fped:  to  one  that  Ims  ;  and  it  is  the  duty  of  every 
good  citizen  to  maintain  that  government  of  any 
country  which  the  majority  of  its  inhabitants  ap- 
prove, whether  he  hirafclf  Ihould  otherwife  prefer  it, 
or  not. 

8  This 


On  the  PJots  in  Birmingham.  1 1  ^ 

This,  however,  is  all  that  can  in  reafon  be  re- 
quired of  any  man.  To  demand  more  would  be  z% 
abfurd  as  to  oblige  every  man,  by  the  law  of  mar- 
riage, to  maintain  that  his  particular  wife  was  ab- 
folutely  the  handlbmeft,  and  befl  tempered  woman 
in  the  world;  whereas  it  is  furely  fufficient  if  a  man 
behave  well  to  his  wife,  and  difcharge  the  duties  of 
a  good  hufband. 

A  ver)'  great  m.ajority  of  Englidimen,  I  am  well 
perfuaded,  are  friends  to  v/hat  are  called  high  max- 
ims of  government.  They  would  choofe  to  have 
the  power  of  the  crown  rather  enlarged  than  re- 
duced, and  would  rather  fee  all  the  Diffenters  ba- 
niflied  than  any  reformadon  made  in  the  church. 
A  dread  of  every  thing  tending  to  republicanijm  is 
manifeftly  increafed  of  late  years,  and  is  likely  to 
increafj  ftill  more.  The  very  term  is  become  one 
of  the  mofi:  opprobrious  in  the  Englifh  language. 
The  clergy  (whofe  near  alliance  with  the  court,  and 
the  prefent  royal  family,  after  having  been  almoft  a 
century  hoftile  to  them,  is  a  remarkable  event  in 
the  prefent  reign)  have  contributed  not  a  little  to 
that  leaning  to  arbitrary  power  in  the  crown  which 
has  lately  been  growing  upon  us.  They  preach  up 
the  do6lrines  of  paflive  obedience  and  non-refiftance 
with  as  litde  difguife  as  their  anceftors  did  in  the 
reigns  of  the  Stuarts,  and  their  aduladon  of  the  king 
and  of  the  minifter  is  abjeft  in  the  extreme.  Both 
Mr.  Madan's  fermoa  and  Mr.  Burn's  reply  to  my 

I  Appeal 


1 1 4  An  Appeal  to  the  Public^  &c. 

Appeal  diicover  the  fame  fpirit ;  and  any  fentlment 
in  favour  of  liberty  that  is  at  all  bold  and  manly, 
fiich  as,  till  of  late,  was  deemed  becoming  Eng- 
lifhmen,  and  the  difciples  of  Mr.  Locke,  is  now  re- 
probated as  feditious. 

In  thefc  circiimftanccs,  it  would  be  nothing  lefs 
than  madnefs  ferioufly  to  attempt  a  change  in  the 
conftitution,  and  I  hope  I  am  not  abfolutely  infane. 
I  fincerely  wifh  my  countrymen,  as  part  of  the  hu- 
man race  (though,  I  own,  I  now  ftel  no  particular 
attachment  to  them  on  any  other  ground)  the  un- 
difturbed  enjoyment  of  diat  form  of  government 
which  they  fo  evidently  ai^prove ;  and  as  I  have  n© 
favour  to  afk  of  them,  or  of  their  governors,  befides 
mere  protedlion,  as  to  a  ftranger,  while  I  violate  no 
known  law,  and  have  not  this  to  aflc  for  any  long 
term,  I  hope  it  will  be  granted  me.  If  not,  I  muft, 
like  many  others,  in  all  ages  and  all  nations,  fubmit 
to  whatever  the  fupreme  Being,  whofe  eye  is  upon 
us  all,  and  who  I  believe  intends,  and  will  in  his 
own  time  bring  about,  the  good  of  all,  fliall  ap- 
point, and  by  their  means  execute. 


Mr, 


(     115    ) 


Mr.  RuJclPs  Letter  to  Br,  Priejlley. 


DEAR    SIR, 

J  HAVE  fomewhere  read  that  to  argue 
with  a  perfon  while  he  is  in  a  paflion,  is  juft  as  wife 
as  to  hold  a  lanthorn  to  a  blind  man.  The  oppo- 
nents of  myfelf  and  of  my  patriotic  companions,  on 
the  14th  of  July  1791,  have  evidently  been  under 
the  moft  unreafonabie  phrenfy  that  ever  difgraced 
this  nation ;  and  had  we  been  willing  to  feed  it  by 
returning  the  abufe  and  calumny  that  was  fo  out- 
rageouily  poured  upon  us,  v/e  might  have  retorted 
long  ago.  But  as  our  appeal  is  to  the  calmer  paf- 
fions,  it  appeared  neceilary  to  wait  till  the  feafon  of 
fury  was  over,  and  we  could  hope  that  the  llill  fmall 
voice  of  truth  would  be  liftened  to.  However  the 
time  for  a  full  reply  to  Mr.  Burn's  moll  extraordi- 
nary performance  is,  in  my  opinion,  now  come,  and 
I  fear  any  farther  delay  will  be  an  injury  to  the 
caufe  for  which  v/e  are  fufFering.  I  rejoice  there- 
fore to  hear  that  you  are  preparing  a  fecond  part  of 
your  Appeal,  not  doubting  but  that  this  infidious 
publication  will  have  a  full  (hare  of  your  notice, 
and  be  expofed  as  it  defervcs. 

I  2  This 


1 1 6  Mr.  RuifcIPs  Letter 

This  leads  mc,  as  a  friend  to  fociety,  to  lament,  ' 
and  I  do  it  very  fincerely,  that  any  of  the  clergy 
fhould  think  abufe  cf  the  Diflenters  is  now  the 
road  to  preferincnt,  and  that  fo  many  concurrent 
circuniftanceo  fliou.ld  aimoll  compel  others  to  think 
fo  too.  However,  while  we  pity  thofewhofe  minds 
are  dius  debafed,  and  who  can  difgrace  the  talents 
that  they  poffefs  by  fuch  an  unworthy  proftitution, 
the  duty  we  owe  to  ourfelves  and  to  the  commu- 
nity, calls  upon  us  to  guard  againft  the  confequences, 
by  detecting  their  mifreprefentations  and  expofing 
their  failehoods. 

I  prefume  you  will  recoUeft  the  fatisfaclion  both 
of  us  received  fome  years  ago  when  Mr.  Burn  firft 
met  us  on  the  hbrary  committee,  and  I  well  re- 
member the  pleafure  you  cxpreffed  in  the  hope  that 
he  would  prove  an  agreeable  acquaintance.  Little  did 
I  then  imagine  he  could  prove  the  virulent  enen^^y 
to  us  both,  which  his  Reply  to  your  Appeal  fhows 
him  to  be.  As  to  myfelf,  though  I  have  very  fre- 
quently been  in  company  v/ith  him  fince  that  period, 
I  never  received,  or  apprehended,  the  lead  inciviUty 
from  him  before  the  publication  of  this  laft  pamphlet, 
in  which  I  fee  with  concern  and  furprife  that  I  am 
made  the  fubjecft  of  fome  of  thofe  malevolent  far- 
cafms  by  which  the  book  is  diftinguifned.  I  cannot 
therefore  but  be  anxious  to  engage  your  notice  of 
them,  and  to  have  you  informed  of  what  I  have  to 
lay  in  reply  5  and  as  I  am  in  poffeffion  of  a  variety 
3  of 


io  Br.  Priejiley,  117 

of  informadon  relating  to  the  rubjeft  of  the  riots, 
and  connetled  with  his  book,  I  will  detail  fome  of 
it  to  you,  that  you  may  give  the  public  llich  part  as 
you  think  worth  notice. 

I  have  often  been  at  a  lofs  to  account  for  the 
•wide  extenfion  of  the  extravagant  fpirit  of  decla- 
rnation  and  outrage  upon  the  occafion  under  which 
we  are  fufFering,  and  am  furprifed  that  Mr.  Burn 
fhould  fo  readily  come  forward  to  join  in  it,  becaufe 
I  was  informed  that  he  thought  well  of  the  French 
revolution  in  the  early  ftages  of  it.  Surely  then  he 
fhould  have  fhewn  fome  confideration  for  thofe  who 
ftill  hold  his  former  opinions,  as  it  is  poffible  they 
may  not  have  the  fame  reafons  for  abandoning  them 
which  have  operated  upon  him.  Much  do  I  Vy'lfli 
that  he  had  attended  to  this,  and  to  his  chara6ler  as 
a  minifher  of  peace,  which  ought  to  have  prevented 
him  from  becoming  an  advocate  in  a  fcene  of  party 
difcord,  and  a  partizan  in  a  bufinefs  v^'hich  has  not 
only  interrupted  the  fifety  and  harmony  of  fociety, 
but  difgraced  the  community  in  which  it  was  tranf- 
aded.  However,  as  he  has  thought  fit  to.  becom>e 
the  champion  of  bigotry  and  the  Don  Quixote  of 
the  High  Church  party,  and  I  think  his  motives  can- 
not be  miftaken,  I  fincerely  hope  he  will  not  be 
fuffered  to  triumph  in  his  knight  frrant  ej^pedition. 

The  firil  part  of  his  Reply,  which  I  feel  myfelf 
I  3  particularly 


-1 1 8  Mr.  RuJj'eWs  Letter 

particularly  called  upon  to  notice,  relates  to  the 
advertifement  refpeding  the  hand-bill,  which  he 
and  his  friends  have  endeavoured  to  rcpreftnt  as  one 
caufe  of  the  riots  that  followed,  but  which  I  verily 
believe  would  have  no  more  contributed  to  them 
than  the  letter  I  am  now  writing  to  you,  had  it  not 
been  induitrioufiy  circulated  by  them,  and  thereby 
rendered  uibfervient  to  their  own  purpofe  of  creating 
a  difturbance.  That  hand-bill  Mr.  Burn  tells  us 
was  lent  to  the  minifter  by  the  magiftrates.  What 
more  then  was  neceflary  for  them,  or  for  any  one 
elfe  of  the  party  at  Birmingham,  to  do  with  refped 
to  it?  and  if  nothing  uncommon  was  meditated, 
why  call  out  the  clergy  upon  the  occafion  ?  Surely 
the  advertifement  wdiich  followed,  offering  the 
lool,  rev/ard,  would  have  been  deemed  fufficient 
without  their  interfering,  or  without  any  other 
fignature  than  thole  of  the  magiftrates.  But  1 
Ivnevv  on  Wednefday  the  i^th  of  July,  that  feve- 
ral  others  were  added:  for  as  I  was  riding  into 
town  on  that  evening,  I  accidentally  met  Mr.  Carles 
on  horfebackj  who  immediately  ftopped,  and  ad- 
dreiied  me  as  ufual,  in  a  very  friendly  manner,  ac- 
quainting me  widi  die  advertifement  which  had  been 
^.greed  upon,  telling  me  that  icol.  reward  v/as 
pflcied  to  any  one  that  would  difcover  the  author 
of  the  hand -bill,  and  adding  that  he  had  heard  we 
denied  any  knowledge  of,  or  connexion  with,  the 
author,  and  that  as  he  confidered  me  as  the  oflen- 

fible 


to  Dr.  Prkjlley,  1 1 9 

fible  perfon  for  the  party  I  belonged  to,  he  had 
been  much  inclined  to  fend  the  advertifement  to 
me,  that  I  might  add  my  fignature,  but  that  upon 
fecond  thoughts  he  had  dechned  doing  it,  from  mo- 
tives of  dehcacy,  not  knowing  how  I  might  feel 
fuch  an  applicadon. 

For  this  friendly  attention  I  made  my  acknow- 
ledgments, and  added,  that  I  thought  myfelf  obliged 
by  his  delicacy,  but  could  afliire  him  that  I  knew 
no  more  of  the  author  than  he  did,  nor  had  I  the 
fmalleft  fufpicion  who  it  was,  and  therefore  fincerely 
wilhed  he  had  lent  me  the  paper,  as  I  fliould  have 
figned  it  without  hefitation.  To  this  he  replied,  that 
he  was  glad  to  hear  me  fay  fo,  and  wifhed  he  had  fent 
the  advertifement,  for  he  was  fure  I  was  his  friend, 
and,  let  what  would  come,  he  would  not  hurt  the 
hair  of  the  head  of  myfelf  or  any  of  the  fe6l  I  be- 
longed to.  This  led  me  to  lay  that  pofTibly  it  might 
not  be  too  late  for  me  to  add  my  name  even  then, 
and  that  if  he  approved  it,  and  v/ould  give  me  leave, 
I  v/ould  fend  Mr.  Sv/inney  orders  to  affix  my  name 
to  the  advertifement,  and  I  would  cheerfully  pay  my 
proportion  towards  the  expence,  fhouid  the  offer  be 
fuccefsful,  and  the  lool.  paid  in  confcquence  of  it. 
To  this  he  freely  affented,  and  added,  that  he  wifhed 
I  would,  for  I  was  his  friend,  I  had  been  his  friend, 
and,  let  what  v/ould  happen,  he  would  not  hurt  a 
hair  of  my  head,  no,  he  would  not  hurt  a  hair  of 
my  head,  or  of  any  of  the  feft  that  I  belonged  to. 
I  4  The 


I  20  Mr.  RuJfeWs  Letter 

The  tone  in  which  thefe  words  were  repeated,  and 
the  attitude  in  which  he  rode,  whilft  repeating  them, 
fhewed  me  that  he  had  been  drinking,  and  (as 
uiual)  gone  fomething  beyond  the  bounds  of  tem- 
perance. But  as  he  appeared  very  capable  of  rid- 
ing home,  I  left  him,  not  being  at  that  time  im- 
prefled  with  the  fame  idea  of  the  fignificance  of  thefe 
remarkable  v/ords  that  I  have  been  fince. 

After  refleding  on  what  had  pafled,  and  the  con- 
dition of  the  perfon  with  whom   I    had  the  con- 
verfation,  I  was  in  doubt  whether  fending  my  pame 
to  the  printer  would  not  be  deemed,  an  intrufion  by 
the  other  Gentlemen  who  had  figned  the  adv-ertife- 
ment.     In  confequence  of  this,  as  you  v/iil  no  doubt 
recolleft,  I  called  at  Fair  Flill,  and  confulted  you 
as  a  friend,  v/hen  you  admitted  the  reafons  I  had 
to  hefitate,  but,  upon  the  v/hole,  thought  with  mc, 
that  it  would  be  beft  for  me  to  fend  my  name,  which 
I  accordingly  did  by  a  note  to  Mr.  Swinney,  telling 
him  that,   in  confequence  of  a  converfation  with 
Mr.  Carles   that  evening,    fmce  the   advertifement 
relating  to  the  hand-bill  was  fent,  I  had  been  in- 
vited by  him  to  add  my  name  to  it,  that  I  had  given 
my  aflent,  and  accordingly  requefted  and   autho- 
rifed   him   to    add   it  to  the  others  already  given 
in.     Mr.  Swinney's  return  to  this  note  was  a  print- 
ed  newfpaper,  which  I   received   foon   after    nine 
o'clock,  and  v/hich  proved  to  me  that  he  was  much 
forwarder  with  the  impreflion  of  his  paper  t'lan  I 

had 


to  Dr.Pnefllcy.  izi 

had  any  apprehenfion  ofi  and  alib  that  the  oppor- 
tunity I  thought  myfelf  in  poflcfTion  of  was  paffed. 

This  circumfhance,  however,  leads  me  to  remark, 
that  I  gave  an  incontrovertible  and  renewed  proof 
of  ray  difpofition  as  to  the  author  of  the  hand-bill  i 
and  it  alio  makes  it  very  evident  that  fome  fcheme 
had  that  day  been  talked  of,  and  that  the  repeated 
declarations,  that  not  a  hair  of  our  heads  fnould  be 
hurt,  was  the  confequence  of  it  *.  Thefe  words 
have  very  frequently  and  forcibly  occurred  to  m^ 
fince  the  riots  happened,  and  1  have  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  obferving  die  direction  in  which  the  pro- 
ceedings were  conducted.  It  is  now  well  known  to 
me  that  a  meedng  had  then  been  previoufly  held  at 
the  houfe  of  a  *'  Church  and  King''  partizan  for  the 
purpofe  of  confidering  how  to  punifh  thefe  "  damn'd 
*^  prejhyterians."  Thefe  were  his  own  words.  It 
is  well  known  to  me  that  the  rioters  very  frequently 
and  publicly  declared,  that  they  had  the  juiliccs* 
prote6lion.  It  is  alfo  well  known  to  me,  to  your- 
felf,  and  to  many  others,  that  they  had  a  regular  lift 
of  the  devoted  houfes.  Nay,  much  more  than  this 
is  known  to  me  and  others,  though  not  yet  made 
known  to  the  public  -,  but  I  trufl  it  will  in  due  time, 
and  that  it  will  appear  to  every  one,  that  the  DilTen- 
tcrs,  lb  far  from  being  fuch  fadious,  turbulent,  and 

/ 

*  An  alTociation  for  burning  our  lioures  and  places  of  worfliip 
might  admit  of  a  condition  that  our  peribns  Ihould  be  fafe. 

refliefs 


122  Mr.  RujjeWs  Letter 

reflkfs  characters  as  they  have  of  late  fo  frequently 
been  reprefented,  have  aCted  with  a  degree  of  for- 
bearance and  patience  unparalleled  in  any  fiinilar 
initance.  You  well  knovv^  it  has  not  been  for  want 
of  evidence  that  profecutions  have  not  been  com- 
menced, but  becaufe  the  Diflfenters  committed  their 
caufe  to  government,  and  expc£le.i  redrefs  from 
thence. 

The  next  infinuation  of  Mr.  Burn  which  I  am 
concerned  to  notice  is,  that  relpefting  the  offer  the 
Diflenters  publiflied  of  a  reward  of  lool.  to  any 
perfon  who  lliould  difcover  the  author  of  the  hand- 
bill. This,  he  fneeringly  obfcrves,  was  not  adver- 
tifed,  bur  was  "  confined  to  a  few  corners  of  the  Jlreets 
"  in  the  town.'"  Here  again  I  muft  lament  his  want 
of  candour  or  veracity,  for  his  afTertion  is  untrue. 
This  offer  was  not  confined  to  a  few  corners  of  the 
ftreets;  it  was  printed  with  a  type  of  the  largefl:  fize, 
and  upon  paper  in  proportion  3  and  particular  direc- 
tions v,'ere  given  tliat  it  fliould  be  palled  up  in  every 
part  of  the  town  where  the  proclamation,  which 
offered  the  fame  reward,  was  put  up.  Nay  more 
than  this,  it  was  alfo  pafted  up  in  the  public  ftreets 
at  Worcefler  and  Warwick,  with  the  concurrence 
of  the  folicitor  to  the  treafury,  as  foon  as  the  affizes 
commenced.  It  is  true  that  fome  inhdious  v/retches 
very  frequently  pulled  down  thefe  papers  in  Bir- 
mingham, as  they  did  the  king's  proclamation, 
•which  offered    icqI.  to  any  one    tl)ac  would   dil- 

cover 


to  Dr.  Priefiky,  123 

cover  the  authors  and  abettors  of  the  riots.  But 
that  does  not  prove  that  either  the  one  or  the  other 
had  not  been  put  up  publicly,  and  very  generally  too. 

I  proceed  now  to  the  invidious  charge  in  p.  5*4 
and  ^c^^  aimed  at  mylcif  dirough  the  means  of 
Mr.  Dadley,  the  mailer  of  tlie  hotel.  And  here 
again  it  is  neceflary  to  expofe  Mr.  Burn's  want  of 
attention,  or  elfe  his  wilful  exaggeration  of  fads.  In 
giving  his  pretended  extradb  from  my  letter,  he  fays, 
p.  54,  "  Mr.  Dadley,  it  feems,  recommended  that 
**^  the  dinner  might  be  liad  as  was  intended — he  was 
"  fure  there  was  no  danger  of  tumult,  provided  the 
"  gentlemen  broke  up  early;  and^  on  this rcprejcnta^ 
"  tioHy  orders  were  given  to  the  printer  to  fupprefs 
*'  the  hand-bill,  and  Mr,  Dadley  s  meafure  was 
*'-  adopted."— -Now,  if  you  turn  to  my  letter  in  the 
appendix  of  his  own  book,  you  may  fee  that  the 
words  "  and  on  this  repreientation"  are  not  in  my  let- 
ter, as  he  has  quoted  them ;  nor  do  I  call  it  Mr,  Dad- 
ley's  meafare.  Surely  after  fuch  wanton,  unprovoked 
attacks  upon  private  charafters  as  his  illiberal  pages 
exhibit,  he  fliould  have  had  a  little  more  regard  to 
circumfpedlion,  Mr.  Dadley's  " folemn  depofitiony* 
for  fuch  Mr.  Burn  calls  it,  and  fuch  he  would  have 
the  world  fuppofe  it  to  be  (though  it  does  not  appear 
to  me  to  have  been  made  before  any  perfon  au- 
thorifed  to  take  it),  is  contradidled  by  the  tellimony 
of  every  individual  who  was  prefent  at  the  convcr- 
fation  it  alludes  to  i  and  I  am  fully  perfuaded  that 

Mr, 


124  Mr.  P^ujjfd'ts  Letter 

Mr.  Dadley  would  not  have  interfered  on  the  occa- 
fion  at  all,  had  he  not  been  iblicited  by  Ibme  of  the 
lenders  of  the  High  Church  party.  To  fuch  mi- 
ferable  fubterfugc^s  and  meannefs  does  party  fpirit 
carry  men  whomj  in  every  other  charatter,  I  can 
refpedl  and  efteem.  Mr.  Dadley  has  fuffered  fo 
much  that  I  pity  him  \  and  I  have  cheerfully  joined 
with  my  patriotic  compeers  in  giving  him  folid 
proof  of  it.  But  I  fnall  not,  in  return,  put  him 
upon  maligning  others,  or  expofing  himfelf  by  be- 
coming the  tool  of  a  party,  which  it  muft  be  allowed 
is  extremely  ungenerous  to  require  of  a  man  in.  his 
lituation  of  life.  Againfl  his  fingle  teftimony  I  now 
place  that  of  the  three  gentlemen  preient,  who  on 
^t  ill  of  May  laft  wrote  to  me  the  following  note: 


"  DEAR     SIR, 

*^  Mr.  Burn  having  introduced  into  his  Reply  to 
"  Dr.  Prieftley's  Appeal  Mr.  Dadley's  account  of  a 
"  converfation  which  he  fays  took  place  on  the 
*'  morning  of  the  t4th  of  July,  with  a  view  to  in- 
**  validate  your  account  of  the  tranfaclions  of  that 
"  day,  we  think  it  right  to  declare  that  the  repre- 
*'  fentation  there. given  is  not  a  juft  one  of  what 
"  pafled  between  us. — Mr.  Dadley  was  exprefsly 
**  defired  to  tell  us  if  he  had  the  fame  reafon  to  ap- 
*'  prehend  a  difturbance  as  when  we  faw  him  on 
**  the  Monday  evening,  to  which  he  replied,  that 
"  he  had  not,  and  that  he  then  had  no  fear  refpeiling 

"  it. 


to 


to  Dr.PneJIky.  12$ 

*^  it,  as  he  had  heard  nothing  further  about  it.  We 
*'  are  fully  perfuaded  that  you  could  not  have,  in 
givinp-  your  account,  the  moil  diftant  idea  of 
fixing  any  odium  upon  Mr.  Dadley,  or  intending 
"  to  make  him  a  party  in  the  dinner.  Mr.  Dad- 
"  ley  was  never  confidered  as  any  way  more  con- 
*^  cerned  in  the  tranfaftions  of  that  day,  than  when 
"  he  was  preparing  any  other  public  dinner  for  the 
"  various  meetings  held  at  his  houfc. 

"  We  are,  very  refpeftfully, 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  Your  much  obliged  and  obedient  lervants, 

Birmingham^  William  Hunt, 

May  ijly  1792.  Harry  Hunt, 

John  Lawrence." 

To  this  let  me  add,  that  I  wilh  to  afk  Mr.  Bum, 
How  long  it  has  been  the  bufinefs  of  the  clergy  of 
Birn:iingham  to  watch  over  the  concerns  of  the  pub- 
licans there?  If  I  have  traduced,  injured,  or  offended 
Mr.  Dadley,  pray  what  have  Mr.  Burn  and  his 
alibciated  brethren  of  the  cloth  to  do  with  it-?  If 
any  explanation  was  neceffary  between  Mr.  Dadky 
and  myfclf,  it  furely  might  have  been  eafily  iettled 
without  this  public,  and  I  muil  Iky  impertinent  at- 
tempt to  calumniate  me,  which,  though  more  ma- 
levolent than  his  infinuations  of  modefty  and  diffi- 
dence, is  not  lefs  fo  than  his  infidious  attempt  ta 
reprefent  the  dinner  as  the  caufe  of  the  riots.  1  o  his 
fneer  about  modcfty  and  diffidence  I  reply,  that  an 

honcft 


126  Mr\  Rujelfs  Letter 

honefl;  man  who  has  no  other  objeifl  than  the  public? 
good,  ought  not  to  feel  the  diffidence  of  thofe  who 
have  venal  purpofes,  felrtfh  ends,  or  party  views,  in 
their  public  attendances.  It  is,  however,  entirely 
owing  to  an  infirmity  in  my  hearing,  that  I  am 
not  only  obliged  to  place  myfelf  near  the  chair  at 
public  meetings,  but  to  keep  there,  if  I  would  con- 
tribute my  mite  towards  promoting  the  general 
good.  And  that  I  have  uniformly  been  governed 
by  that  obje(5t,  and  by  that  alone,  in  all  my  nume- 
rous and  almoft  iinceafing  attendances  upon  public 
bufinefs,  I  now  dare  to  aver,  even  in  the  face  of  the 
phrenfy  and  intemperance  with  which  myfelf  and 
my  friends  are  purfued. 

Thus  much  for  tlie  impertinent  attempt  to  repre- 
fent  me  as  afiliming  more  than  is  becoming  me.  I 
will  frankly  confcfs,  the  charader  contained  in  ano- 
ther of  his  farcaftic  fneers,  graufies  me  very  highly, 
that  of  your  "  zealous  friend."  To  be  called  the 
friend  of  Dr.  Prieftley,  and  to  enjoy  an  intimacy 
with  him,  is  an  honour  that  I  prize  beyond  eflima- 
tion.  And  I  rejoice  in  that  zeal  and  adlivity  to 
which  this  indmacy  has  led  me,  becaufe  it  has  ever 
been  founded  in  benevolence,  and  had  public  vfe- 
fulnefs  for  its  objed. 

The  friends  of  Church  and  King,   as  they  call 
themfelves,  have  burned  my  houfe,  and  driven  mc 
from  the  place  which  it  had  been  my  ftudy  to  im- 
prove 


to  Dr.  Priefiley,  127 

prove  for  twenty-eight  years  fuccelTively,  where  I 
had  fixed  my  earthly  refidence,  and  fondly  imagined 
I  had  fecured  a  retreat  for  the  decline  of  life.  But 
though  I  am  thus  deprived  of  my  habitation,  and 
driven  from  the  fpot  in  which  I  delighted,  my  princi- 
ples are  in  every  refpedl  the  fame  as  before  the  riots. 
J  am,  and  will  be  a  truly  independent  man,  a  "  zealous 
"  friend"  of  truth  and  liberty.  I  will  {till  ftrive  to 
attain  the  equal  rights  of  a  citizen,  to  which  1  know 
myfelf  entided ;  and  I  will  always  avail  myfelf  of 
every  opportunity  of  ferving  the  caufe  of  truth  and 
liberty. 

The  note  at  the  bottom  of  p.  56  of  Mr.  Burn's 
Reply  is,  I  prefume,  to  be  read  as  a  declaration  of 
Mr.  Dadley's.  But  this  (as  well  as  my  declaration 
in  p.  ^c,y  of  dining  by  myfelf,  which  is  printed  ia 
italics)  is  fo  ambiguoufly  expreffed,  that  much  at- 
tention is  neceflary  to  preferve  the  connexion.  To 
the  latter  I  do  not  deem  it  neceiTary  to  make  any 
reply.  But,  to  expofe  the  former,  and  fhew  the 
incorredlnefs  of  the  additional  note  above  mentioned, 
I  wifh  you  to  give  the  public  the  following  declara- 
tion, which  was  figned  foon  after  Mr.  Burn's  Reply 
appeared,  and  will  Ihew  that  it  was  Mr.  Dadley's 
windows  only  that  were  mentioned,  and  about  which 
any  apprehenfions  were  entertained.  The  declara- 
tion Mr.  Burn  gives  by  Mr.  Dadley,  and  that  of  all 
who  were  prefent  at  the  time  he  refers  to,  is  as  fol- 
lows, and  I  have  contralled  it  with  that  of  all  the 
gentlemen  v/ho  were  prefent  at  the  time  he  refers  to: 
4  Mr. 


rzS  Mr.  Riijj ell's  Letter 

Mr.  Burn's  note,   p.  56,     Declaration  of  Mr.  Rujfell^ 
containing  Mr.  Dad-         &c. 
ley's  declaration. 


^*^  On  the  Monday  pre- 
"  ceding  I  had  infortned 
*'  Mr.  William  Hunt, 
"  Mr.  Harry  Hunt,  Mr. 
«  William  Rujjclh  Mr. 
*'  George  Humphrys,  and 
'^  Mr.  John  Lawrence, 
**  who  were  met  at  my 
*^  houje  that  afternoony 
"  that  it  was  then  gene- 
**  rally  thougloty  if  the 
"  dinner  fhould  be  had,  it 
"  would  create  a  general 
''  difturbance  in  the  town. 
"  In  anfwer  to  which  they 
"  all  prom'ifed  to  indem- 
*'  nfy  me,  provided  any 
'^  damages  or  lofs  (hould 
*'  enfue  in  confeque-ice  of 
**  the  dinner  being  had." 


"On  the  Monday  even- 
"  ing  previous  to  the 
"  14th  of  July,  when  we 
"  were  at  the  hotel,  Mr. 
"  Dadley  informed  us 
"  that  he  had  been  told 
"  by  a  gentleman,  tliat 
"  if  the  dinner  was  held 
"  at  liis  houfe  his  win- 
"  dows  would  certainly 
*'  be  broken.  We  prelT- 
"  ed  Mr.  Dadley  to  give 
"  the  name  of  this  gen- 
"  tleman,  as  there  feem- 
"  ed  no  doubt  that  if 
"  it  fo  happened,  this 
"  prophetic  gentleman 
"  would  either  be  the 
"  accomplillier  of  his 
"  own  prophecy,  or  the 
"  employer  of  others  for 
*'  that  purpofe.  Mr. 
*'  Dadley,  for  reafons 
"  beft  known  to  him- 
"  feif,  abfolutely  refufed 
"  naming  him.  Mr. 
Dadley 


to  Br.Prieflley*  129 

"  Dadley  alfo  mention- 
"  ed  that  he  had  heard 
"  a  very  exceptionable 
"  hand  -  bill  had  been 
"  circulated  in  the  town, 
"  but  which  not  one 
"  of  us  had  at  that  time 
*'  feen, 

"  William  Russell, 
"  Glgrge  Humphrys, 
"  Harry  Hunt, 
"  John  Lawrence, 
*'  William  Hunt.*' 

I  cannot  but  think  that  two  pofitions  advanced 
by  this  declaradon  are  wordiy  of  attention,  viz.  that 
the  parties  in  queftion  had  no  idea  of  any  in- 
demnification but  what  related  to  Mr.  Dadley's  win- 
dows, as  he  never  fo  much  as  mentioned  any  other 
objeft  of  apprchenfion  i  and  that  we  had  not  on 
Monday  evening  any  of  us  feen  a  copy  of  the  fa- 
mous hand-bill,  of  which  we  have  fince  heard  fo 
much.  Mr.  Dadley,  as  I  have  already  obfervcd, 
has  received  a  fubftantial  proof  of  our  fympathy, 
and  found  us  fuperior  to  the  litde  fubterfuge  of  fhel- 
tering  ourfelves  under  a  plea  that  our  promife  ex- 
tended to  his  windows  only,  although  we  never  gave 
him  any  other.  I  pity  Mr.  Dadley,  and  wifh  he 
had  fuffered  lefs.     I  never  intended  to  hold  him  up 

K  as 


1^0  Mr.Ruj[tirs  Letter 

as  the  caiife  of  having  the  dinner;  and  therefore 
wifli  my  letter  written  in  London  had  been  more 
guarded  in  that  particular.  But  the  extreme  hurry 
in  which  it  was  penned,  and  the  aflurance  which, 
immediately  upon  my  return  home,  I  gave  Mr. 
Dadley  of  my  intentions  refpefting  it,  would,  I  am 
perfuaded,  have  fatisfied  him  entirely,  had  he  not 
been  goaded  on  by  the  High  Church  partifans  to 
let  them  ufe  his  name  as  they  have  done.  All  my 
acquaintance  well  know  that  I  never  concealed  my 
fingiilar  exertions  in  promoting  the  dinner;  and  had 
I  conceived  that  there  had  been  any  thing  illegal  or 
unjultifiable,  either  in  the  dinner  or  the  toafls,  I 
fliould  Icarcely  have  perfonally  avowed  myfelf  an 
advocate  both  for  the  one  apd  the  other,  to  his 
majefly's  minifters,  and  delivered  them  the  original 
lift  of  toafts,  as  it  was  tranfcribed  for  the  prefs.  But 
the  fact  really  was  fo;  and  this  lift  was  in  their 
hands  when  the  infamous  libel  in  the  paper  called 
'   "^he  Times  was  publiilied  *. 

It  was  this  circumftance,  and  this  alone,  which 


*  This  libel,  as  publiflied  in  the  Times  on  the  1 9th  July,  was 
as  follows,  viz.  "  By  every  account  which  has  arrived  trom  Bir- 
"  mingham,  and  from  authenticated  fafts  in  corroboration  of  what 
•'  wc  have  already  inlerted,  it  is  an  indifputable  truth,  that  the  mo~ 
"  tives  which  occalioned  tlie  havoc  already  made  amongll  the  Dif- 
"  fenters  at  Birmingham,  and  which  is  ftill  making,  folely  fprung 
**  from  the  loyalty  of  the  people.  The  public  were  determined,  before 
*<  they  proceeded  to  violence,  to  have  feme  further  pi'oof  of  the  in- 
*'  tention  of  thofe  commemoration  men  j  they  therefore  waited  until 
"  they  heird  what  was  laid  at  table.  They  had,  indeed,  theii'  fuf- 
*'  picionsj  and  thofe  fufpicions,  after  the  firlt  courfe,  were  realifed 
"  by  the  following  toall  being  drunk,  *'  Deltruftion  to  the  preient 
"  government — and  the  king's  head  iii  a  charger." 

A  occafioned 


to  Dr.Pi-ie/Iley.  l^t 

occafioneci  that  extreme  hurry  which  I  fee  Mr.  Burn 
had  been  acquainted  with  previous  to  the  publica- 
tion of  his  book;  and   has  treated  with  a  want  of 
candour  on  the  occafion  which  I  hope  it  will  never 
be  in  the  power  of  any  man  to  lay  to  my  charge. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  the  libellous  paper  in  'The  Times 
above  mentioned,  was  pubiifhed  on  Tuefday  the 
19th  of  July,  when  under  an  expectation  of  another 
'  audience  of  the  minifters,  and  receiving  from  them 
my  lift  of  the  toalls  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  my 
anfwer  to  it  was  promifed  for  Wednefday's  paper. 
I  was,  however,  dilappointed  in  the  expected  au- 
dience with  the  minifters  on  Tuefday;  but  although 
I  had  an  appointment,  and  attended  on  Wednefday, 
yet  I  could  not  return  from  the  Treafury  till  near 
two  o'clock,  and  I  knew  the  anfwer  muft  necef- 
farily  be  written,  and   be  delivered  at  the  printer's 
by  three,  if  it  was  to  appear  in  the  paper  of  that  day, 
which  1  had  engaged  it  ftiould.     Nay,  fo  much  was 
I  preffed  for  time  upon  my  return  from  the  minif- 
ters,   that  though   I    haftily    wrote,    I   could    not 
tranfcribe,  the  letter,  but  was  obliged  to  haften  with 
it  myielf  to  the  printer's  in  its  rough  ftate,  that  I 
might  enable  the  compofitor  to  fet  it  for  that  day's 
paper.     Now,  whatever  Mr.  Burn  may  do,  I  diink 
every  candid  perfon  who  rccolleds  the  time  and  cir- 
cumftances  in  which  I  wrote,  will  feel  litde  difficulty 
in  making  due  allowance  for  any  inaccuracy  which 
appears  in  a  letter  written  in  fuch  a  ftiort  and  truly 
agitating  period. 

K  2  I  will 


1 3  2  Mr.  RiiJfeWs  Letter 

I  will  therefore  rely  upon  this  candour,  and  go  on 
to  obferve,  that  in  p.  1 1 8  Mr.  Burn  criticifes,  with 
his  ufual  acrimony,  upon  the  toads,  and  gives  an 
addition  to  the  9th  toad,  "  The  Prince  of  Wales." 
I  have  no  objcflion  at  all  to  this  addition.  It  was, 
however!^  added  by  the  chairman,  and  is  not  in  the 
original  lid.  But  the  explanation  that  refpe6lable 
gentleman  has  already  given  the  public  upon  this 
fubjed:  renders  it  needkfs  for  me  to  fay  any  more. 

As  to  the  meeting  breaking  up  without  the  lead 
riot  or  didurbance,  which,  by  way  of  emphafis,  Mr. 
Burn  again  prints  in  italics  (fee  his  book,  p.  1 20), 
I  repeat  the  adertion  I  made  before,  "  that  it  did 
'^  fo."  I  again  aver  it  to  be  true,  and  being  called 
upon  for  proof)  I  refer  to  the  company  that  dined, 
with  a  very  fmall  exception.  I  am  obliged,  how- 
ever, to  make  that,  becaufe  I  was  repeatedly  told, 
and  informed  you  of  the  fame  long  ago,  that  one 
man  was  fent  by  the  party  to  the  dinner  purpofely 
to  indilt  yourfelf,  and  by  that  means  begin  a  riot 
within  doors,  which  was  happily  prevented  by  your 
not  being  at  the  dinner  as  they  expected. — It  is 
true  two  of  the  gentlemen  who  came  from  a  dif- 
tance,  and  on  horfeback,  went  out  at  the  back 
door,  as  the  readied  way  to  their  horfes,  and  I  be- 
lieve were  afterwards  followed  by  fome  of  the 
mob ;  but  neither  myfelf,  nor  the  company  in 
general,  v/ho  went  out  together  at  the  front  door, 
met  with  any  rioters,   or  the    lead  annoyance  in 

leaving 


to  Dr.PnefJi:y.  133 

leaving  the  hotel  i  and  in  repeatedly  walking  the 
ftreets  fome  hours  afterwards  1  did  not  perceive 
any  difturbance,  nor  the  appearance  of  any ;  neither 
did  I  ever  hear  of  thofe  two  gentlemen,  who  went 
out  at  the  back  door,  being  molefted  till  fome  time 
after  Mr.  Burn's  book  was  pubiifhed,  and  occa- 
fioned  converfation  upon  the  fubjeft.  My  own 
opinion  is,  that  no  difturbance  would  have  hap- 
pened, had  not  uncommon  meafures  been  ufed  to 
promote  it. 

In  reply  to  what  Mr.  Burn  advances  refpefting 
the  fhort  addrefs  I  took  the  liberty  of  adding  to  our 
chairman's,  upon  the  breaking  up  of  the  company, 
I  fay,  that  if  any  part  of  it  was  loft  through  the 
"  perturbed  ftate"  of  the  company,  as  he  reports, 
it  is  more  than  I  know  of.  I  certainly  did  lament 
to  them  that  the  people  out  of  doors  were  (a  much 
mifled  as  to  be  brought  to  infult  us  as  we  c.iric  ro 
dinner  3  but  I  uttered  every  word  I  \^ifl■lf-.i  to  Uiy 
upon  the  lubje6lj  and  nothing  wliich  I  il^culd  be 
unwilling  to  repeat  again  at  any  dme.  I  ii\i\-  o/.iy 
add  further  upon  this  topic,  tliat  the  pardc;  wno 
dined  together  at  the  hotel  on  ine  i^li  of  Ji/iy, 
may  with  tne  utmoft  propiiciy  app-.a!  c?  the  whok* 
tenor  of  their  condudi",  bv.ih  betoie  and  fmce 
riots,  for  the  refutacijn  cf  the  variou-  c  ' 
which  have  ueen  induftrioufly  ciicula  r 
their  views  in  holding  that  meedi  „ . 

K   ;;  ^  As 


13+  Mr.  Rujfeirs  Letter, 

As  to  the  criminality  of  that  convivial  meeting, 
it  is  prefumed  that  this  will   not  be  advanced   by 
any  one,  even  in  the  paroxyfm  of  pafiion.     But 
as   Mr.   Burn  choofes  to  defcribe   this  dinner   as 
the  caufe  of  the  fubfequent  riots,   it  may  be  ob- 
fervedj  that  as  the  chairman  was  a  member  of  the 
efLablifliment,  and  m.any  others  of  this  clafs  attended, 
if  this  dinner  was  the  irritating  caufe,  how  came  it 
to  pafs  that  the  firft  obje6t  of  the  rioters  {hould  be 
9,  meeting-houfe  where  Dr.  Prieftley  preached,  who 
had  nothing  to  do  with  the  dinner  ?     With  more 
propriety  fiill  it  may  be  demanded^  what  was  the 
reafon   that   thofe   gentlemen    who   were   publicly 
known  to  have  been  the  firft  and  moft  adlive  in  pro- 
jiioting  the  dinner,  were  the  laft  to  fuffer  in  the  de- 
predations   committed  ?     Mr.  John   Ryland,    Mr, 
Hutton,  and  Mr,  Taylor,  were  none  of  them  at  the 
dinner,  and  yet  fo  violent  was  the  fury  againft  the 
laftj  that  it  v/as   currently  reported,   and   believed 
among  the  mob,  as  v;ell  as  others,  that  every  mill 
find  farm-houfe  which  were  known  to  belono;  to  him 
were  threatened ;    and  of  a  lift  which  contained 
feventy-two   or   feventy -three    houfes    that   were 
Tnarked  to  be  deftroyed,  it  is  knov/n  that  the  num- 
ber belonging  to  this  gentleman  formed  a  very  large 
propordon   of  the   whole  j   whilft   myfeif,    though 
amcngft  the  firft  at  the  dinner,  was  one  of  the  laft 
|:hat  lulfered.     And  how  is  it  to  be  accounted  for, 
fhat^  of  twelve  houfes  that  have  been  deftroyed, 

only 


to  'Dr.PneJiley,  135 

only  three  of  the  whole  number  belonged  to  gentle- 
men who  dined,  and  not  one  to  any  member  of  the 
eftablifhment  ? 

Here  I  think  it  may  be  proper  to  obferve,   tliat 
I  have  fupported  a  public  charafler  in  the  town 
of  Birmingham  for  more  than   twenty  years,  and 
have  ever  been  dilpofed  to  diftinguifh   myfelf  as  a 
friend  to  the  public  intereft  of  the  community.     In 
this  character  it  was  that  I  felt  myfelf  impelled  to 
promote  the  dinner  on  the  14th  of  July,   on  the 
principles  both  of  humanity  and  of  com.merce.     I 
have  fufficiently  declared   myfelf  a  friend    to  hu- 
manity in  the  hand-bill  that  preceded  the  dinner. 
It  did  not  feem  politic  to  give  the  commercial  rea- 
fons  to  the  public.      But  I  now  ftate,  that,  as  a 
friend  to  the   town,  I   thought  myfelf  particularly 
called  upon  to  promote  the  dinner,  becaufe  I  well 
knew  that  the  trade  it  enjoyed  with  Fraiice,  which 
was  one  of  its  mod  valuable  branches,  was  in  danger 
of  fufFering  very  materially  from  the  fpirit  of  dif- 
content  which  the  commercial  treaty  had  very  gene- 
rally occafioned  in  France.     And   becaufe  I   well 
knew  that  the  patriotic  popular  party  there  were  fo 
much  affefted  by  this  ipirit  oi  diflatisfaflion,  that 
they  were   forming  aflbciadons,   and   by  their  ex- 
ample promodng  the  difufe  of  Englilh  manufac- 
tures. 

I  alfo  knew  that  this  circumftance  had  alarmed 
K  4  fome 


136  Mr.  Rufeirs  Letter 

fome  of  the  firft  commercial  chara6ters  in  Birming- 
ham. I  thought  nothing  fo  likely  to  do  away  this 
threatening  evil  as  to  teflify,  in  a  feafon  of  convivi- 
ality, a  friendly  difpofition  tov;ards  this,  the  firft  nation 
in  Europe,  by  rejoicing  in  its  emancipation  from 
defpotifm,  and  in  its  refolutions  to  live  in  peace  with 
all  mankind.  I  tlioiight  nothing  more  likely  to 
promote  a  fpirit  of  concord  than  applauding  their 
declaration,  that  they  would  never  go  to  war  any 
more  for  the  fake  of  conqueft.  I  have  always 
thought  peace  and  commerce  very  clofely  connect- 
ed, and  therefore  conceived  it  my  duty,  as  a  fincere 
friend  to  both,  and  as  a  good  citizen,  to  rejoice 
publicly  in  this  folemn  harbinger  of  both  to  this 
country.  But  when  it  appeared  that  my  views  and 
th.ofe  of  my  friends  were  mifreprefcnted  by  fome  of 
our  neighbours,  and  mifconccived  by  others,  we 
who  v/ere  concerned  in  promoting  the  dinner  joined 
in  publifning  an  advertifement  which  ought  to  have 
fatiofied  every  reafonable  perfon  of  our  attachment 
to  our  prefent  conftitution  at  home ;  and  which 
would  no  doubt  have  done  it,  had  not  many  calum- 
nies bte;5  circulated,  and  much  exertion  been  miade 
to  prevent  it  by  chofe  vv'ho  are  the  real  authors  and 
^ibettors  cf  this  mifchief*. 

Had 

*  Birmingham  Commemoration  of  the  French  Re-voIu!i;f/. 

Sever?.!  handbiib  hav;ng-  been  circvikited  in  the  town  which 
can  only  be  iiuimk-d  to  cre.ite  diilrult  concerning  the  intentions  ot 
ti;c  meeting,  to  t^turb  its  liannony,  and  infianie  the  minds  of  the 

people, 


to  Dr.  Prie/iky.  137 

Had  there  not  been  particular  meafures  ufed  at 
Birmingham,  the  dinner  there  would  no  doubt 
have  pafled  over  in  peace,  as  it  did  in  every 
other  place  in  the  kingdom  where  they  were 
held.  In  no  place  whatever  was  the  commercial 
part  of  the  community  fo  much  interefted  in 
celebrating  this  feftival  as  at  Birmingham.  The 
value  of  the  commerce  of  France  with  this 
town  and  neighbourhood  fhould  not  be  publicly 
eftimated.  "When  the  late  commercial  treaty  was 
pending,  the  minifter  was  particularly  folicited  to 
prevent  any  calculadon  of  its  value  beipg  made,  leil 
its  magnitude  fhould  be  communicated  to  the 
French,  and  impede  the  treaty.  I  can  alleit,  ]iow- 
ever,  from  the  bell  authority,  that  one  houfe  alone 
(which  was  among  thofe  that  were  mod  defirous  of 
promoting  the  dinner)  has  exported  to  France  to 
the  amount  of  fome  millions  of  the  manufaftures  of 
the  town  and  neighbourhood  of  Birmingham.  Yet, 
extraordinary  as  it  may  feem,  in  a  tov/n  thus  inter- 
efled  has  the  only  difturbance  of  the  feftivity  of  this 
memorable  day  been  found.  Through  the  whole 
kingdom  bcfides   all  was  peace:    and  yet  that   it 


people,  the  gentlemen  who  propofed  it  think  it  necerary  to  declare 
their  entire  dKapprobation  of  all  luch  hanJbiiis,  and  their  ignorance 
of  the  authors.  Senfible  therafeives  of  the  advantages  of  a  free  go- 
vernment, they  rejoice  in  the  extenfion  of  liberty  to  their  iicigh- 
bours,  at  the  fame  time  avowing,  in  the  mofc  exj.^licit  manner,  their 
tirm  attachment  to  the  conllitution  of  theii^  own  country,  as  vtlkd 
in  tiie  three  eftates  of  Kirig,  Lords,  and  Commons  :  furely  no  Jrcc- 
born  Eifs^lijhman  can  refrain  from  exulting  in  this  addition  to  the  ge- 
neral mais  of  human  happinefs. — It  is  the  cauie  oi  kuiiianity  -^-^^iX.  is 
the  cauie  of  the  people. 

Birmingba!7t,  July,  13,  1791. 

would 


1 3  8  Mr.  Rufeil ' j  Letter 

would  not  be  fo  here,  feveral  perfons  befides  the 
gentleman  Mr.  Dadley  mentioned,  it  now  appears, 
ventured  to  foretel   before  the  day  arrived.     The 
induftrious    circulation   of    Dr.   Tatham's   inflam- 
matory letter,  which  was  diftributed  gratis  in  the 
public    houfes    of   the   town,    the    advertifement 
which  was   publiihcd    with    the   words    "   Incen- 
"  diary  refuted"  at  tlie  head  of  it,  the  imperdnent 
infult  of  an  anonymous  bigot  who  advertifed,  that 
he   would    publifh  a  lift   of  the    names  of  thofe 
who   dined  at  the   hotel   upon   a   black   page   in 
white  letters,   though  all  of  them  were  meafures 
manifeftly  calculated    to    promote   a    difturbance, 
they  would,    I    believe,    have  been  inefFeftual,  if 
the  magiftrates   had  not  continued  in   town,   and 
feen  without   refilling  fome  among   the  mob  in- 
fult the  gentlemen  as  tliey  came  to  the  hotel  to  the 
dinner ;  and  if  other  principal  gentlemen  too,  who 
placed  themfelves  upon  the  Heps  of  Mr.  Brooke's 
houfe,  the  very  next  to  the  hotel,  had  not  been 
feen  to  encourage  rather  than  difcountenance  tlie 
people.    Without  fome  extraordinary  exertions  to 
miflead   the   people  they  could  not  pofllbly  have 
taken  ofi^ence  at  any  thing  that  was  faid  or  done  by 
the  parties  who  met  and  dined. 

The  adverdfements  that  preceded  the  dinner 
were  as  explicit  as  could  be  penned.  The  toafts  and 
the  fongs,  too,  were  fuch  as  the  people  would,  I  am 
perfuaded,  have  moft  cheerfully  encored,  had  they 

been 


to  Dr,  Prkftley.  139 

been  left  to  follow  the  didates  of  their  own  honeft 
hearts,  and  to  confiilt  their  own  feelings  only.  Nay, 
not  a  man  among  the  High  Church  party  itlelf,  I 
Ihould  think,  could  have  refufed  to  join  in  the  clof- 
ing  lines  of  die  fong  that  was  prepared  for  the  occa- 
fion,  which  were : 

"  Let  each  loyal  Briton  then  joyfully  fmg, 

*'  The  bleffings  of  freedom,  and  long  live  the  king," 

Is  this  language  inconfiftent  with  the  public  profef- 
fions  of  attachment  to  the  conftitudon  held  out  in 
the  advertifemcnt  ?  Is  it  not  fufficiently  declaratory 
to  amount  of  itfelf  to  a  full  proof  to  every  impartial 
perfon,  that  the  meeting  has  been  bafely  calumniat- 
ed, and  that  it  has  only  been  ufed  as  an  oflenfible 
occafion  of  perfecudng  and  vilifying  the  DiiTcnters? 
And  yet  what  is  it  that  has  been  alleged  againft 
them  ?  Many  indeed  have  been  the  frivolous 
charges  againft  yourfelf,  who  juftly  fland  fo  confpi- 
cuous  among  us]  but  againft  the  body  of  Difl'enters 
what  do  all  the  charges  that  have  been  offered 
amount  to  ? 

Mr.  Madan  has  feduloufly  endeavoured  to  give  a  fe- 
rious  alarm  founded  upon  our  proceedings  to  obtain 
a  repeal  of  the  teft  laws.  But  that  gentleman's  ap^ 
prehenfions  were  totally  groundlefs.  Had  we  enter- 
tained any  unbecoming  or  illegal  intentions,  we 
fhould  not  have  regularly  pubhfhed  our  proceedings 
to  the  world  j  bqt  this  has  been  our  pradice.     No 

refolutions, 


140  Mr.  Rujfeirs  Letter 

refolutlonsj  as  far  as  I  ever  knew,  or  heard  of,  have 
been  formed  at  any  of  thofe  meetings  but  what  are 
before  the  pnbHc.  I  will  venture  to  add,  there  are 
none  pafied  upon  the  late  attempt,  but  what  are 
in  every  degree  equalled  in  fpirit  and  firmnefs 
by  thofe  which  were  pafied  upon  former  occa- 
fions,  in  profeccting  the  attempt  to  obtain  relief 
from  iho:  penalties  to  which  DifTenters  were  fubjcfl 
for  keeping  fchools,  in  which,  though  repeatedly 
iinfucccfsful  at  firft,  we  were  at  l.:fl  happy  enough 
to  be  redrefied. 

If  Mr.  Burn  and  his  brethren  have  any  inflances 
ofdifloyalty  to  charge  us  v/ich,  any  ails  ofdififfec- 
tlon  to  the  ilate  to  accufe  us  of,  let  them  bring 
theni  forth  ;  let  the  charge  be  made.  When  the  ad- 
verdfement  exprefllng  our  loyalty  and  attachment 
to  the  government  of  this  kingdom  was  publiihed 
on  the  14th  of  July,  what  was  further  necelTary  to 
prove  us  good  citizens  ?  Was  it  OL-coming  us,  who 
v/ere  confcious  of  none  but  upiight  motives,  and 
imdifgaifed  actions,  to  be  deterred  from  an  inno- 
cent purpofe  by  a  dread  of  the  machinations  of 
thofe  who  we  were  told  h;".d  been  fecretly  plotting 
mifchief  againll  us  ?  Surely  not. 

After  expreffing  myfelf  thus  unrefervcdly  upon 
t-eal  facls,  you  will  eafily  imagine  with  what  feel- 
ings I  read  Mr.  Burn's  modcft  infinuation  of  the  ac- 
tivity of  the  magiftratcs.     He  lays,  p.  44,  "  They 

"  ftaid 


to  Dr.  Priejlky.  14? 

"  flaid  in  town  for  the  exprcfs  purpofe  of  interpof- 
*^  ing  their  authority,  Jhoiild  my  attempt  he  made  to 
'^  break  the  ■peace'*  If  it  was  fo,  why  did  they  not 
interfere  when  they  both  heard  and  faw  the  noto- 
rious infults  ofilred  to  fome  of  the  gentlemen  as 
they  went  into  the  hotel  ?  What  did  they  do  in  thi:^, 
the  fuppofed  origin  of  the  bufinef)  ?  What  did  they, 
when  in  the  evening  they  fav/  the  two  meeting- 
houfes  and  your  houfe  deftroyed  ?  Did  they  make 
any  extraordinary  confcabies,  or  enter  upon  any 
other  fpirited  oppofieion ?  No:  v/hile  the  meeting 
houfes  were  ftill  burning,  and  the  mob  deflioying 
your  furniture  and  your  houfe,  they  both  returned 
home,  and  went  very  praceabiy  to  bed;  and  when. 
two  refpe6lable  gentlemen  went  over  to  them  at  my 
requeft  early  the  next  morning,  one  of  them  ex- 
preffed  much  anger  at  being  called  out  of  his  bed. 
And  yet  the  "  diffident"  Mr.  Burn  very  modcflly 
reprelents  the  merit  of  the  magifrrates  as  approved 
and  fanclioned  by  one  of  the  moil  numerous  and  re- 
fpedlable  town  meetings  that  was  ever  convened  in 
Birmingham,  and  fays  the  only  proof  of  delinquency 
on  the  part  of  the  magifrrates  was  Uieir  want  of  fuc- 
cefs*.  A  flriking  proof,  indeed,  this  {ztnz  affords  of 
ihii  faithful  df charge  of  their  duty!  as  Mi-.  Burn  declare? 
it ;  and,  that  he  may  not  lofe  the  full  emphafis  of  the 
words,  he  prints  them  in  italics.    I  confefs,  hov/ever. 


*  Will  Mr.  Burn  fay  that  the  ma:!,lftrates  were  ne'ther  of  them 
intoxicHted  with  liquor,  in  t!ie  courii  of  ti.e  ridl  evcnjzjg  of  thii 
interciting  and  diigracetul  event  ? 

tl?af, 


142  Mr,  Ruffe iTs  Letter 

that,  before  this  fcene  of  outrage,  I  never  heard  of 
an  inftance  wherein  a  magiftrate  "  faithfully  di/-^ 
"  charging  his  dutyj"  in  quelling  a  mob,  when  ad- 
drelTing  the  rioters,  whom  he  found  in  the  very 
a6b  of  pulling  down  a  houfe,  lliould  defire  them  to 
•*  take  care  not  to  hurt  one  another.'^  And  yet  this  is 
one  among  many  other  proofs  furnifhed  upon  the 
prefent  occafion.  I  think  it  renders  all  others  fu- 
perfluous.  Otherwife  many  more  equally  in  point 
might  be  mentioned,  as  well  as  the  following  fingular 
faift,  viz.  that  throughout  the  whole  of  the  late  fcene, 
though  the  juflices  perfonally  attended  at  your 
houfe,  and  at  feveral  other  houfes,  whilft  the  rioters 
were  dedroying  and  burning  them,  the  Riot  A61  was 
never  once  read,  or  even  attempted  to  be  read  *. 

But  probably  you  may  have  already  been  in- 
formed of  this  through  another  channel.  I  will  not 
therefore  detain  you  any  longer,  for  1  fear  you  mull 
already  have  thought  this  letter  too  long.  But  as  in 
writing  it  I  have  not  been  actuated  by  any  defire  of 
criminating  others,  or  retorting  their  malevolent 
calumnies,  I  hope  you  will  excufe  its  prolixity,  or 
any  little  degree  of  warmth  that  may  appear  in 
this  attempt  in  juftification  of  myfelf^  to  which 
I  have  fteadily  endeavoured  to  confine  my  re- 
marks. For  after  all  that  I  have  fuffered,  and  am 
ftill  fuffering,  I  can  truly  fay  that  I  am  more  dif- 

*  A  ftriking  contraft  this  to   the    repeated   readings  of  this 
A^  when  the  "brothels  were  in  danger. 

pofed 


to  Dr.  Prlejlley.  14^ 

pofed  to  pity,  than  to  criminate  the  authors  and 
abettors  of  it.  Their  feafon  of  refledion,  I  hope,  is 
approaching,  and  I  would  by  no  means  retard  it  by 
any  irritadng  refledions.  I  therefore  moft  cheer- 
fully clofe  this  letter  with  my  bell  wifhes  for  the  re- 
ftoration  of  that  peace  and  good  neighbourhood 
which  reigned  amongft  us  at  Birmingham  previous 
to  this  truly  unexpefted  and  cruel  interruption  of  it ; 
and  I  am  confident  nothing  will  be  wanting  to  pro- 
mote it  that  can  confifiently  be  required  at  the  hands 
of  the  DilTcnters. 

Believe  me,  with  more  relped,  gratitude,  and  af- 
fe6lion,  than  I  can  exprefs. 

Dear  Sir, 

Moll  fincerely  and  truly  yours, 

Birmingham,  WlLLIAM  RuSSELL, 

Aug.  20,  1792. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX, 


No.  h 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Scholefield^s  Advertijement  relating  to  the 
Sunday  Schools  at  Birmingham. 

TO    THE    EDITOP.    OF    THE    BIRMINGHAM    GAZETTE. 
SIR, 

As  Mr.  Bum,  in  his  reply  to  Dr.  Prieilley's  Ap- 
peal, hath,  in  the  moll:  coniiclent  and  even  exulting  man- 
ner, charged  the  Do6tor  with  a  grofs  and  culpable  mif-flate- 
ment  of  fa61:s,  in  relation  to  the  Sunday  Schools  in  this 
town,  and  afferts,  that  the  refolution  of  allowing  the  chil- 
dren of  Diffenters  to  attend  their  own  places  of  worfiiip 
never  was  refcinded;  you  will  be  doing  an  ail  of  jufliice  by 
inferting  the  following  paragraph,  copied  from  the  Bir- 
mingham Gazette,  dated  06lober  2,    1786,  and  greatly 

obligCj 

Your  humble  fervant, 

RADCLIFFE  SCHOLEFIELD. 

''  Piiblic  OfEce,  Sept.  26, 1786. 

"  At  a  General  Meeting  of  the  Suhjcribers  to  the  Sun- 
"  day  Schools  in  Birmingham^  held  here  this  Evening, 

"    REV.    MR.    CURTIS    IN    THE    CHAIR. 

*'  IT  being  reprefented  to  this  meeting,  that  feve- 
*'  ral  gentlemen  have  threatened  to  withdraw  their  fub- 
*'  fcriptions  to  the  Sunday  Schools,  in  confequence  of  an 

L  ♦'  alteration 


146  APPE^TDIJC. 

♦*  altcrptlon  of  the  gencnl  rtiies  made  at  the  requeft  of  ths 
*'  DifTenters,  on  Friday,  the  loth  of  March,  1786:  Re- 
•*  folved>  hr.i  the  -refokition  granting  that  requeft  (which 
*'  the  Di  Tenters  thcmfeives  have  not  availed  themfelves  of, 
*'  and  adhered  t^  .;.  they  eiigagcd)  be  refcinded;  and  that 
'*  in  future  the  rules,  as  they  originally  flood,  be  fteadily 
«  attended  to." 

Who  oi^jrht  not  to  hare  been  iOTorant  now? 

See  Burns  Pamph'et,  p.  il. 
P.  S.  As  you,  fir,  frequently  r.dniit  original  elTays,  or  ex- 
tra6is  fr :  a  otlier  authors,  vou  will  probably  indulge  me 
with  room  for  a  Iv  w  reflecSLions  upon  the  foregoing  ex- 
tradl,  and  Mr.  Burn's  extreme  negligence  and  inattention 
in  refpeft  to  it. — What  was  meant  in  the  refclution,  by 
the  Diffcnters  having  not  availed  themfelves  of  it,  or  at- 
tended to  it,  as  they  engaged  ?  I  believe  they  are  wholly 
iminformed'  to  this  day.  Perfe61:ly  fatisfied  with  having 
removed  fo  illiberal  a  rellri6l;cn  (a  reftridlion  unknown  in 
any  place  I  have  heard  of,  where  the  Eftablifhment  and 
DiiTenters  had  united  in  fupport  of  Sunday  Schools,  and  a 
confirmation  of  what  Dr.  Prieftley  has  obferved  concern- 
ing the  unhappy  fpirit  prevailing  in  this  town),  I  never 
heard  of  their  giving  themfelves  any  farther  concern  about 
it.  I  much  queftion  whether  a  Diffenter  ever  recom- 
mended an  objeft,  much  lefs  infilled  upon  their  attend- 
ing a  place  of  worfhip  among  the  DifTenters ;  if  they  did,  I 
have  no  doubt  of  their  being  attended  to  by  their  patron. 
Of  this  I  am  firmly  perfuadcd,  that  the  refcinding  of  the  re- 
folution  was  the  primary  caufe  of  fetting  up  Sunday  Schools 
amongfi:  themfelves,  as  feparate  from  the  Eflablifliment. 
In  Sheffield,  I  am  informed,  the  fubfcrlptions  go  all  into 
one  {lock,  from  whence  the  maflers  and  miftrefTes  of  the 
^iflin<5t  {bcieties  aic   regularly  paid,  and   why  the  fame 

plan 


APPENDIX.  147 

{)iarl  could  not  have  been  adopted  here  (except  the  fpirit 
had  prevailed  which  Mr.  Burn  fo  confidently  denies  to 
have  an  exiftence)  I  leave  the  pubKc  to  form  their  opinion 
and  judgment. — How  Mr.  Burn  could  have  been  ignorant 
of  a  fa£l  fo  eafy  to  be  proved  muft  be  left  to  him,  and  he 
can  beft  explain.  From  his  ignorance  however  in  this  in- 
flance  the  public  will  be  ready  to  infer  tha't  his  coadjutors 
(in  whofe  defence  he  writes)  have  left  him,  as  we  fay,  irt 
the  lurch,  or  that,  however  he  blames  Dr.  Prieftley,  as  a 
falfe  accufer  of  the  brethren,  he  is  the  firll:  perfon  upon 
whom  (from  a  certain  undeniable  fadl)  the  charadler  can 
at  prefent  reiT:.  They  will  likewife  be  enabled  to  judge 
what  degree  of  credit  is  to  be  given  to  the  other  parts  of  his 
performance,  which,  I  have  no  doubt,  are  either  in  whole, 
or  in  part,  capable  of  the  fame  refutation ;  but,  as  Mr. 
Burn  calls  upon  Dr.  Prieftley  himfelf,  to  him  I  fhall  refer 
the  farther  part  of  the  bufinefs,  only  obferving,  that  even 
Mr.  Burn's  friends  may  now  be  ready  to  exclaim,  and  he 
himfelf  feel  in  part  the  force  of  the  exclamation  in  the 
words  of  Juvenal  r 

Seti  tu  magf!d  difcrimine  cau/am, 
Protegere  affe^as,  te  co^/uk,  die  t'lbi  quis ^^s. 

Ere  thou  attempt  weak  caufes  to  fuppbrt. 
Be  furey  be  very  fare,  thou'rt  able  for't. 

CteecFs  TranJlatioHi 


L  2  No.  il. 


148  APPENDIX, 

No.  IL 

Extract  from  the  original  Advertijement  relating  to  the 
Public  Library  at  Birmingham. 

Birmingham  Library,  Dec.  9,  1789. 
LEST' any  perfon  fliould  miftake  the  nature  of 
this  I'brary,  it  is  thought  proper  to  give  the  following  ge- 
neral account  of  it.- This  library  is  formed  on  the  plan 

of  one  that  was  firll  eftablifhed  at  Liverpool,  and  which 
has  been  fmce  adopted  at  Manchefter,  Leeds,  and  many 
other  confiderable  towns  in  the  kingdom.  The  books  are 
never  to  be  fold ;  and,  from  the  nature  of  the  inftitution, 
the  library  rauft  increafe  till  it  contains  all  the  moffc  va- 
luable publications  in  the  Engliih  language;  and  from  the 
eafy  terms  of  admiffion,  it  will  be  a  treafure  of  knowledge 
both  to  the  prefent  and  all  fucceeding  ages.. 

;  As  all  the  books  are  bought  by  a  committee  of  perfons 
anniially  chofen  by  a  majority  of  the  fubfcrlbers,  and  every 
vote  is  by  ballot,  this  inftitution  can  never  anfwer  the  pur- 
pofe  of  any  party,  civil  or  religious;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
may  be  expecled  to  promote  a  fpirit  of  liberality  and  friend- 
Ihip  among  all  clafles  of  men  v\  ithout  diftinc^ion^ 


No.  IIL 


APPENDIX.  149 

No.  III. 

jfn  Addrejs  to  the  Suhfcribers  to  the  Birmbigham  Li- 
brary on  the  Siihje^  of  Mr,  Cookers  Motioriy  to  re- 
Jlri£f  the  Committee  in  the  Choice  of  Books,  with  a 
View  to  exclude  Controverfml  Divinity. 

Mr.  COOKE'S  MOTION. 

• 

MANY  of  the  Suhfcribers  to  this  very  ufeful  in- 
ftitution  are  much  concerned  to  fee  a  fpirit  of  controverfy 
creeping  into  the  hbrary,  by  the  purchafe  of  fo  many  books 
in  religious  difputes ;  books  of  no  real  ufe,  and  after  the 
prefent  moment  mere  kimber :  they  are  re:.i  but  by  a  par- 
ticular few,  and  do  not  anfwer  the  purpofe  of  the  orioinal 
intention,  which  was  to  collect  a  body  of  ufeful  and  in- 
ftru6live  literature  for  the  ufe  of  poflerity,  as  well  as  the 
prefent  time. 

Do6lor  Prieftley,  the  learned  author  of  many  of  the 
books,  is  of  that  fpirited  and  generous  turn  of  mind,  and 
has  the  fuccefs  of  this  library  fo  much  at  heart,  that,  if  he 
thought  them  necefiary  or  proper,  he,  as  the  writer,  would 
prefent  them. 

It  is  requefted  that  the  committee  will  at  prefent  order 
no  more  of  thofe  books  until  the  fenfe  of  the  whole  fub- 
fcribers  fliall  be  known  at  the  next  general  annual  meet- 
ing. 

It  is  likewife  propofed  to  the  next  general  annual  meet- 
ing to  make  a  motion*  for  a  law  to  exclude  in  future  all 
fcpok^  of  controverjial  divinity. 


L3  T, 


l^  APPENDIX, 

'To  the  Suhfcrihers  to  the  Birmingham  Library. 

GENTLEMEN, 

A  S  this  motion  (which  I  have  not  been  albe  to 
prevent  being  brought  before  you,  at  your  next  general 
meeting)  appears  to  me  to  be  of  confiderable  confequence, 
affefting  one  of  the  firft  principles  of  the  conftitution  of 
our  Ubrary,  viz.  reftridling  the  committee  in  their  choice  of 
books,  and  I  am  particularly  appealed  to  in  it,  I  take  the 
liberty  to  addrefs  you  on  the  fubje6l,  and  to  give  you  my 
reafons  why  I  think  it  highly  improper  that  it  fliould  pafs 
into  a  law.  I  choofe  to  do  it  in  this  manner,  becaufe  it  is 
well  known,  that  on  feveral  accounts,  nothing  can  be  dif- 
cufled  with  advantage  in  a  large  aflembly;  and  by  this 
means  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of  confidering  the 
matter  coolly,  and  of  being  better  qualified  to  vote  wit!) 
judgment  on  the  queftion. 

When  you  have  attended  to  my  reafons,  be  aflured,  that 
I  {hall  acquiefce  in  your  detenr/mation,  whatever  it  may 
be.  The  library,  injured  as  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  will 
be,  by  the  propofed  change  in  its  conflitution,  will  ftill  be  of 
great  value  to  the  town  and  neighbourhood,  and  deferving 
of  the  encouragement  of  all  the  friends  of  literature.  And, 
though  overruled,  I  fhall  riot  even  be  out  of  humour  with 
any  of  the  fubfcribers,  and  leafl  of  aU  with  the  inflitution 
itfelf.  For  the  greater  diftin^lntfs,  I  fhall  digeft  what  I 
have  to  propofe  to  your  confideration  under  feparate  heads, 
and  I  beg  your  difpaflionate  attentioii  to  each  of  them. 

I.  The  object  of  the  inftitution  is  to  provide  a  ftock  of 
fuch  books  as  any  of  the  fubfcribers  may  wiili  to  read,  or  to 
^onfuit.    All  other  libraries  of  this  kind  throughout  Eng- 
land 


APPENDIX..  151 

tanil  are,  I  believe,  upon  the  fame  liberal  and  exteRfive  plan, 
no  fubje£ts  whatever  being  excluded. 

It  haS',  indeed,  been  faid,  that  it  is  contrary  to  the  origi- 
nal defign  of  the  inftltution  to  admit  books  of  rt/igious  con- 
trovcrfy,  B^jt  I  dehre  to  fee  the  evidence  of  this.  Your 
printed  laws,  and  alfo  yoxiiX  periodical  edvertifcments,  whicli 
were  all  drawn  up  by  myfelf,  fay  nothing  on  the  fubjec^.. 
If  we  look  back  to  the  hiflory  of  the  library,  we  fhall  find 
two  cpochas,  viz.  the  firft  inilitution,  in  tlie  year  before  I 
<:ame  to  Birmingham,  and  in  the  year  after,  the  new  m.o- 
.delling  of  its  conilitution  according  to  the  plan  of  that  of 
Leeds.  Thofc  who  were  concerned  in  the  iirft  plan  fay, 
that  when  it  was  propofed  by  fome  perfon  to  exckide  books 
relating  to  the  three  profeflions,  the  motion  was  abfoluttly 
reje6led.  The  nev/  mocielling  of  the  conftitution  was,  in  a 
great  meafure,  made  by  myfelf;  and  I  am  fure  it  was  not 
my  intei\tion,  or  that  of  any  who  acted  with  me,  to  exclude 
jntereftlng  publications  of  any  defcription  whatever. 

II.  The  propofed  regulation  is  unnecefTary.  For  if  any 
evil  whatever  exifl  in  the  condu6f  of  the  library,  the  con- 
ilitution of  it  is  fuch,  as  that  a  fufEcient  remedy  is  always 
provided  in  the  method  of  choofmg  the  conmiittee,  fince 
they  are  annually  chofen  by  the  fubfcribers  at  large.  No- 
thing, therefore,  can  be  wanted  but  iriore  attention  in  the 
fubfcribers  in  choofmg  the  committee,  ar.ij  in  the  commit- 
tee when  they  are  cliofcn.  It  is  alwayj  deemed  wrong  tQ 
alter  a  regulation  that  is  generally  ufeful  for  the  fake  of  a 
particular  inconvenience.  The  time  mav  come  when  the 
fubfcribers  in  general  ihall  change  their  opinion,  and  then 
they  will  wi(h  for  an  adminlllration,  like  the  prcfent,  v/hicl> 
will  always  change  with  themfcives. 

III.  The  committee  ihould  confiJcr  thcinfelvcs  as  re- 
prefenting  the  fubfcribers  at  large,  and,  without  conf^lting 
^heir  own  inclination,  endeavour  to  oblige  as  many  of  them 

L  j^  'as 


1^2  APPENDIX. 

as  they  can,  and  all  if  poffible.  It  has  been  the  cudom  to 
order  books  which  it  was  well  known  could  intereft  only  a 
few  of  the  body.  But  it  was  thought  that  even  a  few  had 
a  right  to  be  gratified,  if  it  could  be  done  without  a  difpro- 
portionate  expence. 

IV.  The  readers  of  theology  among  the  fuhfcribers  tq 
this  library  are  more  numerous,  and  more  refpc6lable,  thaq 
the  author  of  the  motion  imagines,  and  they  think  they 
have  a  riglit  to  be  gratified  even  to  a  greater  extent  than 
they  hitherto  have  been  ;  confidering  that,  of  perhaps  feveq 
or  eight  hundred  pqunds  that  have  been  expended  in  the 
purchafe  of  books,  the  price  of  all  the  publications  objefted  to 
has  not  been  five  pounds.  As  far  a?  I  can  judge,  the  prin- 
cipal controverfy  to  which  thofe  books  relate  is  not  likely 
to  produce  many  more  expenfive  publications,  and  another 
controverfy,  equally  intereftlng,  may  not  arife  in  many 
years. 

V.  It  has  been  faid  that,  by  the  introdudlion  of  books  of 
controverfy,  the  DilTenters  only  will  be  gratified.  This  is 
by  no  means  true ;  many  members  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land being  as  much  friends  to  free  enquiry  (and  vyilhing  to 
have  the  means  of  prprnoting  it  in  this  library)  as  any  Dif- 
fenters.  But  admitting  this  to  be  the  cafe,  it  fliould  be 
confidered  that  the  founders  of  the  inftitution  were  all  Dif- 
fenters ;  as  they  have  been,  I  believe,  of  almoft  every  infti- 
tution  of  the  fame  nature  through  the  kingdom.  Some  re- 
fpe6t  is,  therefore  due  to  them,  and  to  their  liberality,  in 
purpofely  conftituting  the  library  in  fuch  a  manner,  as 
that  their  particular  influence  mufi;  necefiarily  be  excluded, 
whenever  they  il^ould  be,  as  they  now  are,  a  minority. 

VI.  Books  of  controverfy  havp,  farther,  been  objected 
to,  as  being  of  a  temporary  nature.  But  it  has  been  the 
conftant  cuflom  to  buy  any  books,  or  pamphlets,  on  in- 
Jercfling  fubjccls,  hov^-ever  temporary.     And  it  is  defirable 

that 


APPENDIX.  153 

that  tills  librar}'-  Hiould  be  a  repofitory  for  things  of  this 
kind,  as  they  are  often  curious,  and  perfous  have  occafion 
fometimes  to  looic  back  to  them. 

VII.  The  controverfy  that  I  am  now  carrying  on  with 
the  learned  defenders  of  the  do£trine  of  the  Trinity,  grows 
every  day  more  interefting,  efpecially  as  it  has  gained  the 
attention  of  the  two  univerfities.  The  pubhcations  relat- 
ing to  it  are,  I  believe,  in  moft,  if  not  all,  the  libraries  of 
the  fame  nature  with  this ;  and  it  would  be  very  extraordi- 
nary indeed,  if  they  fliould  be  excluded  from  this  of  Bir- 
mingham only,  where  it  may  well  be  fuppofed  that  more 
attention  will  be  drawn  to  them.  My  controverfy  with 
the  Jews  alfo  promifes  to  be  highly  interefling,  as  it  ac- 
tually engages  the  attention  of  the  Jewifli  nation  in  all  parts 
of  Europe,  and  is  the  only  one  that  ever  has  done  it. 

VIII.  The  works  that  have  been  chiefly  complained  of, 
viz.  the  Hijlory  of  the  Corruptions  of  Chrifllanity ,  and  that 
of  Early  Opinions  concerning  Chr'i/i,  are  not  of  a  temporary 
nature,  but  a  colleilion  of  materials,  which  will  be  ufefui 
in  future  time,  if  they  be  of  any  ufe  at  prefent.  In  tlie 
former  of  them,  there  are  not  more  than  t%vo  articles,  out 
of  a  great  number,  that  can  give  the  leaft  offence  to  any 
Proteflant  who  is  not  a  Calvinill:.  And  one  part  of  it  is  a 
defence  of  Chriftlanity,  in  anfwer  to  Mr.  Gibbon,  whofe 
hiftory  is  in  the  library. 

IX.  It  is  obferved  in  the  propofed  motion,  that  if  I  had 
thought  my  ovv'n  controverfial  writings  proper  for  the  li- 
brary, I  would  have  prefented  them  to  it.  In  anfwer  to 
this  I  mufl  fay,  that  I  fliould  very  readily  have  made  a  pre- 
fent of  them,  but  that  I  thoug'it  it  would  be  obje6fed  to,  as 
a  inethod  of  obtruding  them  upon  the  librarv.  I  alfo  ima- 
gined that  it  w^  not  the  price  of  the  books,  but  the  books 
themfelves,  that  were  objedted  to. 

So  far,  however,  have  I  been  from  being  forward  to  in- 

troduqs 


154  APPENDIX. 

troduce  books  of  religious  controverfy,  that  for  two  years  I 
prevented  the  introdu(5lion  of  my  Hljlory  of  the  Corruption's 
cf  Chr'ijliamty  into  the  library.  This  at  that  time  gave  of- 
fence to  many,  and  it  was  faid,  that  my  motive  for  it  was 
to  promote  the  fale  of  the  work  in  the  town.  At  the  fame 
time  I  repeatedly  faid  in  the  committee,  that,  whenever  the 
funds  of  the  focietyfhould  be  fufficiently  ample  (as  theynow 
.certainly  are)  I  fliould  have  no  obje6llon  to  publications 
in  any  interefting  controverfy,  provided  the  choice  was  im- 
partial, fo  that  no  favour  was  fhewn  to  any  one  party  more 
than  to  another. 

When  the  above  mentioned  work  was  ordered,  it  was  en- 
tirely unknown  to  me,  and  much  againft  my  will,  by 
members  of  the  church  of  England.    A  particular  friend  of 
mine    (Mr.   RufTell)    being    prefent,    and    knowing    my 
wifiies,  voted  againft  it.     I  will  add  that  it  is  very  poffible 
I  might  have  ufed  my  endeavours  much  longer  to  keep  out 
of  the  library  eyery  book  of  this  nature,  if  it  had  not  been 
for  the  unreafonable  offence  that  was  taken  at  the  ordering 
of  that  work,  by  feveral  of  the  clergy,  their  intemperate, 
and,  I  will  take  the  liberty  to  fay,  their  childifh  behaviour, 
on  the  occafion.     Whether  this  change  of  my  condu(5l,  in 
thefe  circumftances,  was  natural  or  juftifiable,  I  appeal  to 
the  feelings  of  any  man.     I  never  took  any  meafure  to  in- 
troduce any  publication  of  mine  except  the  Leiten  to  Dr. 
Home,  Sec.  v/hcn  they  had  been  reje6led,  and  the  anfwer  to 
them  admitted,  which  I  thought  an  uncandid  and  unfair 
proceeding.    I  alfo  recommended  the  Theological  RepoJitory\ 
of  which  I  am  the  publiflier.     But  this  was  neceffary  to 
the  controverfies  already  introduced.     It  is,  befides,  a  work 
open  to  all  parties      It  contains  feveral  articles  againft  So- 
cinianifm,  and  many  others  that  muft  give  the  greateft  fatif- 
fadlion  to  all  the  friends  of  Chriftianity,  of  every  denomi- 
nation. 

Wlicn 


APPENDIX.  155 

When  my  work,  contrary  to  my  wiflies,  was  intro- 
duced, I  propofed  Dr.  Horjlcy  s  Anjuiers ;  and  I  have  con- 
ftantly  voted  for  every  thing  written  againft  myfelf. 

X.  They  who  have  objedled  the  moft  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  books  of  controverjfy  are  the  clergy,  no  doubt  think- 
ing fuch  books  improper  for  the  perufal  of  the  fubfcribers 
to  this  hbrary.  But  they  diftributed  a  pamphlet,  entitled, 
^Prefervat'ive  aga'injl  Soc'iniamfm,,  to  all  who  were  confirmed 
at  the  late  vifitation.  And,  if  controverfial  treatifes  be  pro- 
per for  the  perufal  of  boys  and  girls,  or  of  their  parents, 
they  certainly  cannot  be  improper  for  the  fubfcribers  to  this 
library.  This  conduft  looks  as  if  they  were  not  controver- 
fial treatifes  in  general  that  they  objedled  to,  but  thofe  only 
in  which  their  peculiar  opinions  were  oppofed ;  and  that 
they  could  not  decently  decide  againft  thofe  on  one  fide  of 
the  queftion  without  rejedling  all.  I  would  not  be  un- 
candid ;  but  I  appeal  to  all  that  are  candid,  whether  this  be 
not  the  moft  natural  conftruflion  of  their  condu6l,  and 
whether  it  does  not  betray  a  fufpicion  of  the  influence  of 
reafon  and  argument,  and  a  dread  of  free  inquiry. 

XI.  Others  hate  religions  controverfy  becaufe  they  hate 
religion^  having  no  belief  in  Chriftianity.  Thefe  will  vote 
with  the  friends  of  the  eftabliftaed  church,  whatever  it  be, 
in  all  fuch  queftions  as  thofe,  but  on  very  different  principles. 
If  there  be  any  fuch  among  us,  they  ought,  in  decency,  to 
decline  giving  any  vote  at  all.  Otherwife  their  condu6l 
will  be  the  fame  with  that  of  the  dog  in  the  manger.  They 
will  neither  read  any  books  relating  to  religion  themfelves, 
nor  fujffer  others  to  read  them. 

XII.  No  objedlion  was  made  to  feveral  books  of  con- 
troverfy before  ray  Hijlory  of  the  Corruptions  of  Chrifllanity^ 
was  voteJ  into  the  library,  fuch  as  Mr.  White's  Sermons^ 
and  Mr,^  Howes's  Obfervatlons  on  Books,  which  are  all  con- 

troverliaU 


156  APPENDIX. 

troverfial.  And  both  thefe  writers  are  among  my  anta-. 
tagonifls. 

XIII.  The  committee  will  be  unfpcakably  embarraffed 
by  diftinguifhing  books  of  controverfy  from  others,  and 
many  works,  highly  valuable  on  other  accounts,  are  in  part 
fo.  If  controverfy  be  tvholly  excluded,  we  muft  even  have 
no  Reviews,  and  no  Gentleman's  Mag-azine. 

Under  the  defcription  of  religious  cuifoverfy  may  fall  ma- 
ny publications  which  the  fubfcribers  in  general  would 
wifh  to  fee»  If,  for  inftance,  Mr  Gibbon  iliould  refume 
his  attack  on  the  evidences  of  Chrifti^nity,  and  an  Englifh 
bifhop,  as  has  been  the  cafe,  fhould  undertake  the  defence 
of  it,  muft  fuch  interefting  publications  be  excluded  from 
fuch  a  library  as  ours,  becaufe  they  are  rellgio^ts  controverfy? 
In  fuch  a  cafe  as  this  (and  many  other  fuch  might  be  men- 
tioned) the  law  would  either  be  repealed,  or,  which  is  al- 
ways a  bad  thing,  would  be  explained  away,  and  evaded. 

This  is  a  fuppofed  cafe,  but  I  fliall  mention  two  real 
ones,  to  Ihew  how  improper,  if  not  impoffible,  it  will  be 
for  any  committee  to  aft  as  the  friends  of  the  motion 
would  have  them.  At  one  of  our  late  meetings  a  clergy- 
man whom  I  truly  refpedt  propofed  to  us  Father  Courayers 
Declaration  of  his  lafl  Sentiments  concerning  Religion;  and 
certainly  a  publication  of  fo  much  curiofity,  and  fo  much 
talked  of,  was  highly  proper  for  our  library.  Accordingly 
it  was  voted  unanimoufly.  But  it  is,  in  fa6l,  a  book  of  con- 
troverfial  divinity  (which  is  fo  much  the  bugbear  at  pre- 
fent),  for  the  author  gives  his  reafons  for  all  his  opinions, 
efpecially  on  the  fubjeft  of  the  Trinity^  and  appears  to  have 
died  an  Unitarian. 

On  the  other  hand,  at  our  laft  meeting,  the  fecond  part 
9f  my  Letters  to  a  Philofophical  Unbeliever,  which  I  fcruple 
jiot  to  fay  is  one  of  the  moft  valuable  of  all  my  publica- 
tions, 


APPENDIX.  157 

tions,  and  the  mofl  proper  for  the  library,  was  rejected, 
though  it  is  a  cufloni  (and  I  behave  was  never  departed 
from  bui'ore)  to  adaiit  all  continuations  of  works  once  voted 
in  without  any  balloting  at  all,  not  to  lay,  that,  in  other 
fimilar  inftitutions,  it  is  a  rule  to  receive  any  publication  of 
a  fubfcriber,  whatever  li;  be.  I  was  prefent,  and  declined 
giving  any  vote  on  the  occafiori ;  only  obferving,  that  the 
book  did  not  relate  to  the  do6lrine  of  the  Trinity,  and 
therefore  that  they  did  not  need  to  be  afraid  of  it.  Fear, 
liowever,  the  fear  of  fome  lurking  mifchlef,  prevailed.  No 
rcafons  were  given,  but  a  fufficient  number  of  filent  and  de- 
ciiive  votes. 

XIV.  Some  perfons  are,  or  afFe6t  to  be,  alarmed  left 
this  difpute  Ihouid  break  up  the  library.  I  have  no  fuch 
apprehenfions.  It  is  fo  well  ccnftituted  as  to  be  able  to 
bear  much  more  than  this.  Should  the  fubfcribers  at 
large,  after  mature  confideration,  not  only  admit  the  mo- 
tion, but  repeal  the  moft  fundamental  law  of  the  conllitu- 
tion,  by  throwing  out  of  the  library  any  of  the  books  that 
were  regularly  voted  into  it,  I  fliall  acquiefce ;  trufling  that 
in  due  time  good  temper,  and  good  fenfe,  will  refume  their 
natural  influence.  For,  though  prejudice  may  have  more 
apparent  ftrength,  and  a6l  with  more  violence,  rcafon  has 
better  ftamina,  and  will  outlive  it. 

As  fome  things  are  bell  illuilrated  by  comparifons,  I  hope 
no  offence  will  be  taken  at  the  following.  Suppofe  a  num- 
ber  of  gentlemen  agree  to  have  an  annual  public  dinner, 
and  appoint  flewards  to  condu6l  the  entertainment.  Thefe 
ofHcers,  confidering  the  number,  and  confequently  the 
different  taftes,  of  tliofe  for  whom  they  have  to  provide, 
befides  fuch  fubftantial  boiled  and  roafted  meat  as  fait 
every  body,  and  alfo  fifli,  venifon,  and  turtle,  which  many 
like,  but  feldom  fee,  may  think  proper  to  add  a  delTert, 
confifting  of  ices,  fyllabubs,  fweetmeats,  &;c.  and  likewife 

think 


15^  APPENDIX. 

think  it  not  amifs,  on  fuch  an  occaiioTv  to  introduce  Cucii 
things  as  olives,  &c.  which,  though  not  generally  relifhed, 
Jome  fancy. 

If,  on  feeing  this  defTert,  any  of  the  company  fhould  fay, 
*'  I  diilike  thefe  olives,  and  vviili  they  might  not  be  intro- 
*'  duced ;"  would  he  not  be  thought  very  unreai'oiiable. 
If  he  iliould  fay,  he  was  confident  that  not  one  tenth  part 
of  the  company  would  tafle  them  ;  mi^jit  it  not  be  faid, 
that  even  a  tenth,  or  a  much  fmaller  proportion,  of  the 
company,  had  a  right  to  be  obliged  in  fuch  a  trifle.  He 
might  fay,  that  olives  were  unwholefome,  and  unfit  for 
any  body  to  eat.  But  might  it  not  be  replied,  that  ncifaer 
iiimfelf,  nor  any  body  eife,  was  obliged  to  eat  of  them,  and 
tliat  others  ought  to  judge  for  themfelves  If  he  fhouH  fay, 
*'  But  my  money  is  expended  on  this  abfurd  article,  '  hich 
*'  I  think  a  great  harllfhip ;"  it  might  be  replied,  that  the 
money  of  the  refl  of  the  company  was  expended  •n  things 
that  were  agreeable  to  himfelf,  and,  perhaps,  only  a  few 
others. 

He  might  add,  "  olives  will  do  my  wife,  or  niy  children, 
*'  hurt,  and  I  would  not  bring  them  into  temptation.'^ 
But  it  might  be  replied,  "  Sir,  you  m.ufi:  take  the  beft  care 
*'  you  can  of  your  wife  and  children.  This  is  not  the  only 
*'  place  in  which  they  will  be  in  danger  of  feeing  olives, 
"  or  hearing  of  them."  Perhaps,  heated  by  the  alterca- 
tion,  he  might  add,  "  If  thefe  abominable  olives  be  ad- 
*'  mitted,  though  they  iliould  not  cofl  a  groat,  I  and  my 
*'  friends  will  abfolutely  kick  down  the  table,  demolifh 
*'  the  furniture  of  the  room,  and  prevent  any  body  from 
«'  dining  here  any  more;"  would  not  a  fenfible  friend  tell 
him,  that  if  this  was  a  point  on  which  he  laid  fo  much 
ftrefs,  he  would  do  well  to  decline  being  of  the  party,  and^ 
avoid  all  public  dinners,  where  he  would  always  be  in  dan- 
ger of  meeting  with  thefe  ofFenfive  olives. 

g  I  woujd^ 


APPENDIX.  159 

I  would  be  far  from  infinuating  by  this  compailfon,  that 
books  of  rehgious  controverfy  refemble  fuch  a  trifle  as  olives 
in  a  deiTert,  except  with  rcfpeiSl  to  the  fmall  expence  attend- 
ing them.  Rehgious  truth  is,  in  itfelf,  invaluable ;  and 
that  the  inveftigation  of  it  is  as  plealing  to  an  ingenious 
mind  as  that  of  any  philofophical  truth,  I  appeal  to  thofe 
who  are  acquainted  with  both.  Others  cannot  be  compe- 
tent judges  in  the  cafe.  They  defpife  what  they  do  not  un- 
derftand. 

I  fhall  conclude  this  addrefs  with  obferving,  that  it  is 
merely  as  a  friend  to  the  library,  and  the  reputation  of  it 
(which  I  really  think  will  be  materially  afFe6led  by  any 
meafure  that  would  reftriil  the  committee  in  the  choice  of 
books)  that  I  wifh  to  prevent  the  motion  from  pafling  into 
a  law.  As  the  author  of  the  publications  principally  ob- 
jected to,  I  fliould  be  moll:  gratified  by  their  being  excluded 
altogether,  as  this  circumftance  would  draw  much  more 
attention  upon  them,  and  make  them  more  generally  read 
than  they  would  otherwife  be. 

Submitting  thefe  obfervations  to  your  candid  attention, 
I  am,  Gentlemen, 

Your  humble  fervant, 

Birmingham,  j^  PRIESTLEY. 

Aug.  14,  1787. 


Catiiiidus  imperti. 


'Si  quid  novijli  rtSltus  ijlis. 


No.  IV, 


i6o  APPENDIX.^ 

No.  IV. 

Extra5f  from  fhe  free  Addrejs  to  Protejiant  Dijfenlers^ 
as  Juch, 

IT  is  alio  natural  for  the  DifTenters  to  wifh  well 
to  every  mild  admiuillration,  which  fecures  to  them  their 
privileges,  and  oppofes  the  attempts  of  a  bigoted  and  head- 
ftrong  multitude,  of  clergy  or  laity,  to  opprefs  them.  For 
the  fame  reafon,  too,  when  the  country,  by  its  eftabliflied 
laws,  favours  the  interefi:  of  the  DiiTenters,  fo  that  they 
have  a  legal  right  to  their  privileges,  they  naturally  confider 
their  country,  and  its  laws,  as  their  guardians,  and  will  fire- 
nuoufly  oppofe  all  the  encroachments  of  the  prerogative  on 
the  conftitution,  and  on  the  rights  of  the  fubje6\s  in  general. 
For  they  mull:  be  fenfible,  that  the  eftablifhed  laws  of  a  free 
community  muft  be  a  better  fecurityfor  their  privileges  than 
the  will  of  any  fmgle  man  whatever.  They  have  too  much 
at  flake  to  be  willing  to  hold  it  on  fo  precarious  a  tenure- 
It  alfo  clearly  follows,  from  the  fame  principle  oifclf-tn~ 
tcrejl,  independent  of  gratitude,  that  the  more  indulgence 
Diffenters  meet  with  from  the  government,  the  ftronger 
will  be  their  attachment  to  it.  Though,  therefore,  it  fhould 
feem  proper  to  the  legiflature  to  give  a  preference  to  one 
mode  of  religion,  by  a  legal  provifion  for  the  maintenance 
of  its  minillers,  it  is  clearly  for  its  intereft  to  attach  all 
DiiTenters  to  it,  as  much  as  pofiible,  by  a  participation  of 
civil  privileges ;  and  it  is  both  injuflice,  and  bad  policy,  in 
civil  governors,  to  debar  themfelves  from  the  fervice  of  men 
of  ability  and  integrity,  and,  at  the  fame  time,  to  alienate 
their  affections,  by  fuch  an  opprobrious  exclujion  from  civil 
honours. 

Yet,  though  I  think  it  right  that  thefe  things  ihould  h& 

publicly 


APPENDIX.  i6i 

^■aWicly  fald,  that  they  may  have  weight  with  thofe  whom 
it  may  concern,  far  would  I  be  from  encouraging  the  leaft 
tendency  towards  difafFe<51:ion  in  the  DiiTenters  to  the  prefent 
conflitution  of  England.  Imperfe6L  as  it  is,  and  hard  as 
the  prefent  laws  bear  upon  us  DiiTenters  in  fome  refpe6ts, 
our  fituation  in  England  is,  upon  the  whole,  fuch  as  we 
have  great  reafon  to  be  thankful  to  divine  providence  for, 
being  abundantly  more  eligible  than  it  would  be  in  any 
other  country  in  the  world  ;  and  it  is  not  fo  defirable  to  ob- 
tain even  a  jufl  right  by  clamour  and  contention,  as  by  the 
continuance  of  a  prudent  and  peaceable  behaviour. 

This  may  Convince  our  legiflators,  that  we  are  deferving 
of  their  indulgence;  Men  who  harbour  no  refentment, 
though  under  a  reftraint,  of  the  injuftice  and  unreafonable- 
nefs  of  which  they  are  fully  fenfible,  muil  be  poiTelTed  of 
generofity  enough  to  be  capable  of  the  mod  grateful  and 
firm  attachment  to  the  hand  that  frees  them  from  the  re- 
ftraint.  If  a  man  have  man;nanlmitv  enoufrh  not  to  bear* 
malice  againfl  an  enemy,  much  more  will  he  be  fufceptlble 
of  a  generous  zeal  for  his  friend. 

Befides,  though,  from  a  regard  to  the  honour  and  in- 
tisrert  of  our  country,  it  is  to  be  wilhed  that  Diflenters 
might  be  admitted  to  all  civil  offices  of  honour  and  trufl-, 
in  common  with  others,  their  fellow- fubjedls,  who  have 
no  better  title  to  them  in  other  refpe6ls:  yet  a  perfon  who 
fliould  confult  the  interelt  of  the  Diffentcrs  only,  as  a  body 
of  men  who  feparate  themfelves  from  a  principle  of  religion^ 
without  regard  to  the  intereft  of  the  community  at  large, 
might,  perhaps,  hefitate  about  taking  any  fteps  to  procure 
an  enlargement  of  their  privileges. 

Profefling  a  religion  which  inculcates  upon  us  that  we 
are  not  of  this  world,  but  only  in  a  courfe  of  difcipline,  tp 
train  us  Up  for  a  better,  it  is  worth  confidering,  whether  a 

M  fituation. 


f^2-  APPENDIX. 

iituation,  in  which  more  fcope  would  be  given  to  ambitiorfj 
and  other  paiTions,  the  tendency  of  which  is  to  attach  us  to 
this  world,  is  to  be  wiflied  for  by  us.  Should  not  a  Chrif- 
tian,  as  fuch  (though' he  fhould  by  no  means  fecrete  him- 
felf  from  fociety,  or  decline  any  opportunity  of  ferving  his 
friend,  or  his  country,  when  divine  Providence  feems  ta 
call  him  out  to  the  fphere  of  a6live  life)  be  content  to  pafs 
xinmolefted  in  the  private  walks  of  life,  rejoicing,  as  his- 
mafter  did,  in  doing  all  kind  offices  to  his  fellow-creatures,- 
without,  afpiring  at  civil  power,  and  thofe  honorary  diftinc- 
tions,  with  which  the  hearts  of  the  men  of  this  world  are  fo 
much  captivated,  and,  very  often,  fo  fatally  infnared. 

As  our  Lord  warned  his  difciples,  that  the  %vorld  would 
Jove  its  own,  and  would  hate  them,  becaufe  they  were  not 
of  the  world ;  and  that  he  w^ho  would  follow  him,  muflr 
take  up  his  crofs  to  do  it;  is  it  not,  ctst  ens  paribus,  more  pro- 
bable that  we  are  thefe  difciples,  when  we  fuffer  forae  de- 
gree of  perfecution,  and  are  rather  frowned  upon  by  the 
powers  of  this  world,  than  if  we  had  free  accefs  to  all  the 
emoluments  of  it  ?  Certainly  fuch  a  fituation  is  far  more 
favourable  to  our  gaining  that  fuperiority  of  mind  to  the 
world,  which  is  required  of  all  Chriftians,  whatever  be  their 
llation  in  it.  We  know  that,  if  perfecution  Jhould  arife  on 
account  of  the  ivord,  we  muft  be  ready  to  forfake  houfes, 
lands,  relations,  and  all  the  endeanuents  of  life,  rather  than 
make  fliipwreck  of  faith  and  of  a  good  confcience;  and 
that,  in  thofe  trying  times,  if  we  deny  Chrifl,  he  will  alfo 
deny  us.  Then  he  that  would  fave  his  life  fliall  lofe  it,  and 
he  only  that  is  willing  to  lofe  his  life,  fliall  fave  it  to  life 
eternal.  This,  Chriftians,  is  the  tenure  on  which  we  hold 
all  the  bleflings  of  the  gofpel. 

.  Now,  if  this  be  the  temper  to  which  we  are  to  be  formed, 
whether  perfecution  ihould  actually  arife,  or  not,  what 

kind 


APPENDIX.  163 

Icirid  of  a  fituatiofi  fhould  we  (from  the  knowledge  we 
have  of  human  nature)  prefcribe,  as  the  mofl:  favourable  for 
the  purpofe  ?  Certainly,  not  one  in  which  we  fhould  have 
nothing  to  bear  or  to  fufFer,  and  where  every  thing  fliould 
be  juft^as  v/e  could  wifli  it.  A  mind  accuftomed  to  this 
treatment  would  be  ill  prepared  for  encountering  the  va- 
rious hardships  of  the  Chriftian  warfare,  in  a  time  of  perfe- 
cution.  In  a  fituation  in  every  refpecSl  favourable  to  the 
purfuits  and  enjoyments  of  this  life,  it  would  not  be  eafy 
for  a  man  to  attain  to  any  thing  like  a  fatisfa£lory  conviction, 
that  he  had  the  proper  temper  and  difpofition  of  a  Chriftian. 
Habits  of  mind  are  not  acquired  by  putting  cafes  (which, 
however,  perfons  would  little  think  of  doing,  when  the 
cafes  were  not  likely  to  occur)  but  by  a6lual  experience 
and  feeling.  A  habit  of  caution  can  never  be  given  to  a 
child  by  admonition  only.  It  is  by  frequent  hurts  that  he 
learns  to  take  care  of  himfelf.  So  likewife  courage  and 
fortitude  are  acquired  by  being  frequently  expofed  to  pains 
and  hardfliips,  by  exerting  our  powers,  and  feeling  the  be- 
nefit of  fuch  exertion. 

All  thefe  things  duly  confictered,  a  man  who  entertains 
the  truly  enlarged  fentiments  of  Chriftianity,  and  is  fenfibld 
how  momentary  and  infignificant  are  all  the  things  of  this 
world,  in  comparifon  with  thofe  of  a  future,  will,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  influence  of  thefe  views,  be  lefs  impatient  of 
the  difRcultics  and  reftraints  he  may  lie  under  in  a  civil  ca- 
pacity. He  will  more  eafily  acquiefce  in  a  fituation  not 
perfeftly  eligible,  when  he  is  prepared  even  to  bear  tlie 
greateft  fufferings  that  can  befall  him  in  this  life  with 
Chriftian  fortitude,  patience,  and  refignation ;  at  the  fame 
time  that  the  benevolence  of  his  heart  is  alwavs  ready  ta 
take  the  form  of  the  moft  generous  patriotifmi,  whenever 
there  occurs  a  clear  and  great  caufe  to  exert  it.  If  a  true 
M  %  Chriftian 


i64  APPENDIX. 

Chriftian  be  confcious  that  he  is  engaged  in  a  good  c^XiCCf 
he,  of  all  men,  has  the  leaft  reafon  to  fear  zuhat  man  can  do- 
unto  him,  and  therefore  he  is  more  to  be  depended  upon,  in 
any  critical  emergence,  than  any  other  perfon  whatever. 

A  Diffen^er,  then,  who  is  fo  upon  principle,  who  h"^,  con- 
fequently,  the  jufteft  notions  of  the  n.atui-e  and  importance 
of  civil  and  religious  liberty ;  who  is,  on  many  accounts, 
thorotighly  fenfible  of  the  bleffings  of  a  mild  and  equal  go- 
vernment, and^,  therefore,  heartily  attached  to  the  interefi 
of  that  conftitution  which  allows  him  the  rights  which  he 
values  fo  highly ;  whofe  mind  is  prepared  to  bear  irremedi- 
able hardihips  with  patience,  but  whofe  ailive  courage,  in 
cafes  in  which  the  great  interefts  of  his  country  call  him  to 
exert  himfelf,  may  be  depended  upon,  is  a  very  valuable 
member  of  civil  fociety.  Such  a  man  will  fcorn  the  mean 
arts  of  court  intrigue.  If  he  can  gain  his  laudable  ends, 
and  be  admitted  to  his  natural  rights,  as  a  loyal  Britifh  fub- 
je6l,  bv  fair  and  open  means,  he  will  not  defpife  it ;  but  he 
will  rather  continue  to  fufFer  unjuftly,  than  proftitute  his 
intereft  to  a  corrupt,  profligate,  and  oppreffive  adminillra- 
lion. 


No.  V. 

Copy  of  the  Forged  Letter  found  at  my  Houfe, 
i6th  Julyy   1791. 

DEAR  DOCTOR, 

I  A  M  now  provided  with  every  thing  neceffary, 
and  will  be  ready  at  the  time  appointed  to  aflifl  in  endea- 
vouring to  attain  that  long  looked  for  by  us,  and  root  out 
the  conftitutional  men  who  have  wielded  the  fhield  againll 
our  rights  as  free-men,  and  truft  you  will  alfo  exert  your- 

felf, 


APPENDIX.  iftS 

•felf,  and  get  all  our  friends  to  be  ready  at  tlie  fame  time, 

to  make  the  grand  pufli.  In  expecSlation  of  that  and  fuccefs, 

1  am,  dear  Do6tor, 

Your  true  friend, 
London,  WILLIAM  RUSSELL, 

May  2,  1-/9?. 


No.  VL 

J[dr.  Ahel  Humphry s's  Jdvertifenient    relaivjg   to   th^i 
Calumny  of  Mr.  IVilliam  Gem. 

TO  THE  PUBLIC. 
Mr.  WILLIAM  GEM,  refident  with  his  father 
i,n  New  Street,  in  this  town,  having  had  the  effrontery  to 
affert  fome  time  ago  in  public  company,  at  the  Dog  Inn, 
in  Spiceal  Street,  that — '•'■  meeting  at  Lady  W ell  Buths  the 
*'  young  Mejfrs.  Humphry fes^  one  of  them  had,  in  his  pre- 
*■'■  fence,  expreffed  a  vjij'h  to  vjade  up  to  his  chin  in  churchmen  s 
*'  blood,  and  that  he,  irr dated  at  fuch  an  cxpreffion,  injiantly 
"  knocked  him  into  the  ivatcr,''^  together  with  other  parti- 
culars, equally  unfounded,  but  tending  to  give  an  air  of 
plaufibility  to  his  tale,  they  find  it  neceffary  thus  publicly 
to  expofe  his  chara6ler,  that  they  may  defend  their  own. 

Upon  the  earlieft  intimation  of  the  exiltence  of  the  re- 
port, having  traced  it  through  its  various  channels,  and 
found  Mr.  Gem  its  fole  author,  one  of  them  waited  upon 
that  gentleman,  and  demanded  an  explanation.  He  witli- 
out  hefitation  confeiTed  himfelf  the  fabricator  of  the  ca- 
lumny, begged  pardon,  and  pleaded  intoxication.  This  at 
tliat  time  they  deemed  fufficient ;  but  on  perceiving  the 
prevalence  of  the  report,  that  it  had  even  become  the  topic 
pf  cor^verfation  in  alehoufes,  and  in  manvifii(£t&ries,  they 
r  M  ^  found 


s66  APPENDIX. 

found  it  necefiary  again  to  wait  upon  that  gentleman,  ii^ 
company  with  a  very  refpeflable  attorney,  and  to  require 
that  his  apology  fliould  be  public.  This  reafonable  requefl, 
though  he  again  acknowledged  the  criminality  of  his  con- 
duit, he  refufed  to  comply  with,  and  it  is  this  refufal  which 
pow  conftraius  them  to  proclaim  him  to  the  world  an  un- 
principled calumniator. 

So  cruel  and  unmerited  an  attack  upon  the  characters  of 
young  men  would,  at  all  times,  be  infamous;  but  when 
made  upon  the  chara£ters  of  thofe  with  whom  he  was 
totally  unacquainted,  in  whofe  company  he  had  never  been, 
and  the  fons  of  a  man  already  the  victim  of  popular  delu- 
fion,  its  infamy  is  extreme. 

Inhuman  mull  be  the  heart  that  could  conceive  the  idea ; 
but  what  language  can  define  the  m,an  that  could  preme- 
ditatelv  afcribe  it  to  the  innocent  ? 

At  another  time  they  had  perhaps  trufled  to  their  known 
charadlers  to  repel  the  charge ;  but  in  the  prefent  feafon  of 
alarm,  when  party  fpirit  eagerly  nurtures  every  wicked  de- 
famation, in  juflice  to  themfelves,  and  to  the  body  to  which 
they  belong,  they  are  bound  to  expofe  the  defamer  who  can 
thus  wantonly  worry  their  innocent  reputation. 
For  felf  and  brothers, 

Birmingham,  ABEL  HUMPHRYS. 

June  19,  1792, 


No.  VII. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  intended  to  he  addrejfed  to  the  Clergy 
of  the  'Town  of  Birmingham, 

PENTLEMEN, 

I  WOULD  addrefs  you  by  the  title  of  my  bre-' 
ihrm  In  the  Chrfuan  mmiftyy^  if  I  did  not  think  it  might 
pffend  you,  find  the  objed  of  this  addrefs  is  not  irritation. 


APPENDIX.  167 

^ut  peace.  As  you,  and  the  mod:  zealous  frjends  of  the 
eftabhllied  church,  now  lee  the  fatal  confequence^  of  harlh 
"language,  and  harfh  meafures  with  us,  I  am  willing  to  think 
you  will  have  no  obje6lion  to  trying  a  different  condudl. 
The  dreadful  efte6ls  of  violence  fhould  teach  you  modera- 
tion, and  urge  you  to  exprefs  this  moderation  in  the  cleareft 
and  leaft  equivocal  manner.  Then  a  lafling  peace  may  be 
eftablifhed,  and  from  this  your  caufe  will  be  a  greater 
gainer  than  ours. 

In  the  laft  eleven  years,  in  which  you  have  fhewn  a  dif- 
pofition  peculiarly  hoftile  to  the  Diffenters,  thev  liave  in- 
creafed  in  an  unprecedented  proportion.  Not  lefs  thaa 
ten  new  congregations  of  Diffenters,  or  Methodifts,  have 
been  formed  in  that  time.  Two  places  of  worfliip  are  ajc 
this  time  building,  and  another  is  intended.  We  are  only 
looking  out  for  a  proper  fituation.  In  the  mean  time, 
though  yoMr  places  of  worfliip  are  but  five,  thofe  who 
attend  public  worfliip  in  them  are  little,  if  at  all,  increafed. 

But  let  huftilities  ceafe,  though  we  are  gainers  by  them. 
It  is  for  your  advantage  that  they  fhould ;  and  as  a  fure 
pledge  of  reconciliation,  good  will,  and  friendfhip,  gene- 
roufly  allow  us  the  ufe  of  your  churches,  till  our  meeting- 
houfes  can  be  rebuilt.  We  contribute  to  the  fupport  and 
repairs  of  them  as  much  as  yourfelves,  and  this  is  but  a  fmali 
advantage  ivi  return.  It  has  been  long  ago  dearly  purchafed 
by  us.  We  fhall  not  interfere  with  your  hours  of  worihip. 
We  fhall  not  profane  or  defile  them,  We  will  preach  ia 
them  the  gofpel  of  peace,  and  we  will  blefs  and  pray  for  you 
in  them.  If  any  thing  can  enfure  the  continuance  of  your 
^hurch,  it  will  be  fuch  lenient  meafures  as  thefe. 

The  thing  that  I  propofe  is  far  from  being  new  In  the 
Chriftian  world.  There  are  churches  in  feveral  parts  of 
Germany  alternately  occupied  by  Catholics  and  Proteftants, 
ever  fmce  the  Reformation,   and  no  ingot^venience  what- 

M  A  evcr» 


/ 


i68  APPENDIX. 

ever,  but  much  good,  has  arifen  from  it.  When  one  of 
your  churches  was  'rebuilding,  the  Diffenters  of  the  place 
lately  offered  the  members  of  the  eflablifhment  the  ufe  of 
their  meeting-houfe,  and  the  various  denominations  of  Dif- 
fenters, who  differ  from  one  another  in  fentiment  as  much 
as  they  do  from  you,  make  no  difficulty  of  accommodating 
one  another  on  fuch  ocCvifions.  The  ufe  of  the  new 
meeting-houfe,  now  in  ruins,  was  given  to  the  Indepen- 
dents when,  on  a  particular  occafion,  they  wanted  a  place 
larger  than  their  own  ;  and  whenever  it  fliall  be  rebuilt,  I 
will  anfwcr  for  its  being  at  your  fervice,  or  that  of  any 
other  denomination  of  Chriftians  whatever. 

Believe  me,  that  this  or  fome  other  meafure,  that  fliall 
ihew  the  decreafe  of  bigotry,  is  abfolutely  neceffary  for  the 
peace  of  the  town,  and  the  good  of  the  country.  It  is  ne- 
ceffary on  the  part  of  the  clergy  in  general,  and  of  the  court 
too.  By  the  manner  in  which  our  late  applications  for  the 
repeal  of  the  tefi:  laws  were  reje61:ed,  more  than  the  re- 
je6lion  itfelf,  the  country  at  large  has  taken  up  the  idea, 
that  the  Diflenters,  and  efpeeially  the  Preibyterians,  and 
Unitarian  Diffenters,  are  odious  to  government,  and  that 
all  connexion  with  them  is  to  be  fliunned  by  the  friends  of 
the  church  and  of  the  king ;  an  idea  which  may  have  thq 
moft  fatal  confequences. 

What  mufl  be  the  feelings  of  a  fet  of  men,  confcious  of 
no  crime,  but  who  confider  themfelves  as  the  beft  citizens, 
9nd  when  induftry,  peaceable  behaviour,  and  loyalty,  have 
been  approved  at  all  times,  but  efpeeially  fmce  the  abdica- 
tion of  their  enemies  the  Stuarts,  and  who  vv^ere  always 
deemed  the  beft  friends  of  the  family  on  the  throne,  finding 
themfelves  now  regarded  in  a  different  light,  and  as  it  were 
profcnhed  by  the  government  under  which  they  live  ?  And 
what  muft  be  the  fentiments  of  others  towards  perfons  in 
jiiis  fituation  ?  It  is  like  fetting  a  price  upon  our  heads,  and 

inviting 


APPENDIX.  169 

inviting  tlie  mob  to  infult  us,  as  of  late  they  have  done  in 
almoft  all  parts  of  England.  ' 

It  is  highly  neceffary,  therefore,  for  the  peace  of  the 
country,  (which,  as  its  burdens  and  difficulties  increafe, 
requires  the  united  ftrength  of  the  whole,  to  enable  it  to 
bear  themj  that  the  bifhops,  and  the  court  itfelf,  fhould 
take  feme  meafares  to  convince  the  public  that  they  con- 
fider  us  ?.s  worthy  not  only  of  protcdion,  but  of  confidence. 
The  late  riots  will  give  them  a  good  opportunity  of  doing 
fomething  that  fhall  have  this  tendency,  and  their  concur- 
rence in  the  repeal  of  all  penal  laws  in  matters  of  religion 
would  not  hurt,  but  greatly  flrengthen,  the  eftablifhment, 
and  abate  the  animofity  of  all  fe6fs;  who  would,  with  infi- 
nitely lefs  relu£lance,  contribute  to  the  fupport  of  a  relio-ious 
fyftem  which  left  them  accefs  to  all  civil  privileges,  and  did 
not  fet  a  mark  upon  them,  as  people  not  truft  worthy. 

By  all  means,  let  tlie  prefent  opportunity,  in  fome  way 
or  other,  be  improved  in  favour  of  future  peace  and  har- 
mony. Such  another  will  never,  I  hope,  be  given  us- 
Otherwife,  no  man  can  tell  what  may  be  the  efFefl  of  the 
animofity  which  through  all  England  will  be  increafed  by 
it.  Our  difcuffion  of  particular  doiSirines  may  go  on  as 
before.  Inquiries  into  religious  truth  have  no  tendency  to 
break  the  peace  of  fociety,  even  though  writers  fliould  not 
always  condu6t  themfelves  as  becomes  fcholars  and  gentle- 
men. Do  you,  the  clergy  of  the  efiiablifhed  church,  do 
your  part  in  this  work  of  peace ^  and  labour  of  love,  and  our 
governors  will  be  more  ready  to  do  theirs.  For  it  can  only 
be  to  oblige  the  church,  that  the  Difi^enters  have  been 
frowned  upon  as  they  have  been.  Let  us,  mutually  weep- 
ing over  the  difmal  fcene  that  is  now  before  us,  embrace  as 
brothers,  whofe  eyes  are  opened,  and  who  will  not  again 
[uffer  them  to  be  blinded  by  our  common  enemy,  ■partj 


I70  APPENDIX. 

Jpirit.     I  call  this  a  common  enemy,  becaufe  it  is  hollriie  to 
oiu"  common  Chrifcianity,  and  is  too  apt  to  afFe6l  us  all. 

My  own  principles  and  condu6l,  though  they  are  confpi- 
cuous  enough  in  my  writings,  have  been  induflrioufly 
jnifreprefented.  But  without  looking  back  to  the  paft,  let 
us  mutuallv  fign  an  a^  of  cbUvion,  and  hope  for  better 
times  in  future.  I  love  ray  country,  notwithftanding  all 
the  defedls  in  its  conftitution,  whicli  I  therefore  earneftly 
wifh  may  be  removed.  And  fuch  reforms  as  are  eafily 
pra6iicable,  and  by  which  all  parties  would  be  gainers, 
would  for  ever  remove  the  neceflity,  and  with  that  the 
prefent  dread,  of  any  great  revolution.  While  this  country 
is  tenable  for  me,  I  fliall  think  myfelf  happy  to  flay  in  it. 
When  it  is  untenable,  I  thank  God  that  others,  and  thofe 
not  undefirable  ones,  are  ready  to  receive  me,  and  efpe- 
cially  I  truft  a  country  more  diflant,  but  infinitely  pre- 
ferable to  them  all.  Hoping  to  meet  you  there,  notwith- 
flanding  we  may  now  and  then  fall  out  by  the  way,  I  am, 

firom  my  heart, 

Gentlemen, 

Your  well  wiflier,  and 

A  friend  of  peace, 

London,  J.  PRIESTLEY. 

July  20,  1791. 


No.  VIII, 

Extra^l  from  a  "Letter  infer  ted  in  the  Sh'ewjhury  Chro- 
nicky  Sept,  14,   17  91. 

For  the  Shrcvofiiiry  Chronicle. 
MR.  PRINTER, 

S-INCE  Dr.  Prieftley  continues  to  breath  out  his 
threatenjngs  againft  the  eilablifhment  of  this  country,  and 
\o  difFufe  his  prognoflications  of  the  fpeedy  downfall  of 

what 


APPENDIX.  17* 

what  he  has  blafphemoully  called,  "  The  idolati'ous  Wor- 
•*'  fhip  of  Jesus  Christ  ;"  and  fmce  long  experience 
evinces  that  arguments  the  moll  demonftrative,  drawn  from 
the  only  fource  whence  man  can  derive  any  knowledge  of 
Divine  things,  are  all  thrown  away  npon  him  :  I  fubmit  it 
to  the  confideration  of  thofe  vvhofe  immediate  duty  it  is  to 
watch  over  the  Chrifiian  religion,  as  part  of  the  funda- 
mental law  of  this  reahn,  Whether  it  be  not  incumbent  ou 
them  to  put  the  flatutes  in  force  againft  him  as  a  Blaf- 
phemer  of  God,  and  a  difturber  of  the  peace  ?  Had  this 
been  done  a  few  years  ago,  it  is  plain  from  the  declarations 
of  the  rioters  lately  executed  at  Warwick,  that  the  depre- 
dations, which  they  fo  outrageoufly,  unlawfully,  and 
wickedly  committed,  had  never  taken  place.  Can  any 
time  be  better  for  the  Attorney  General  to  take  fuch  a  no- 
torious delinquent  in  hand,  than  the  prefent ;  when  it  is 
evident  that  a  legal  profecution  for  his  repeated  blafphemies 
againft  God,  and  threats  againft  the  eflablifhment,  would 
be  grateful  to  an  undoubted  majority  of  all  ranks  of  people, 
notwithflanding  his  vain  boafts  to  the  contrary  ? 

*'  Sedition,  which  ufed  formerly  to  hide  its  trains  of  mif- 
*'  chief  in  caverns,  under  ground,  now  brandifhes  its  torch 
*'  in  broad  day-light:  and  the  policy  of  the  age  (too  deep 
*'  for  me  to  underftartd)  leaves  it  to  itfelf,  and  waits  to  fee  ' 
"  what  it  v^^ill  do;  and  when  the  ftreets  are  in  flames,  tries 
*'  to  put  out  the  fire  as  well  as  it  can  ;  and  difperfes  a  law- 
"  lefs  multitude  with  blood  and  flaughter;  which  might 
*•  have  been  retrained  and  faved  by  a  timely  execution  of 
*'  the  laws." — Jones's  Sermon^  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  May 
31,  1791,  p.  10,    II. 

There  is  fcarce  one  publication  of  Dr.  Prieftley's,  either 
on  a  theological  ox  political  fubje6l,  that  will  not  furnifh  co- 
pious matter  whereon  to  ground  an  information ;  or  in- 
diftment. 

§ept.  14,  1791,  pTAEIZ  AETTEPOS, 


172  APPENDIX. 


No.  IX. 

An  Efitaph  zvritten  for  me  hy  fome  P erf  on  in  the  Wef; 
of  England. 

Near  this  Place  lies  the  BODY  of 

JOSEPH   FUNGUS,  LL.  D.   F.  R.  S, 

And,  ftrange  as  it  may  appear. 

This  FLAMING  INCENDIARY, 

Owing  to  the  Clemency  of  a  mild  Government, 

DIED  A  NATURAL  DEATH. 

In  him  Sedition  hath  loft  its  moft  "zealous  and  Indefatigable 
Friend;  the  Worlds  an  Imperious  and  turbulent  Mem- 
ber of  Society ;  and  the  Dlffcnters  from  the  Efiabll/hed 
Church,  a  furious  and  Indlfcreet  Advocate,  who  did  irre- 

'  parable  Injury  to  their  common  Caufe.  He  was  a  pro- 
feffed  Enemy  of  every  Syjiem  of  Government,  and  an 
avowed  Friend  to  Anarchy  and  Ccnfujion.  Led  by  exr 
treme  Vanity,  and  the  Imbecility  of  abftra6l  Reafoning, 
to  think  he  was  capable  of  raifing  a  Storm  violent  enough 
to  tear  up  the  EflablifJjment  of  his  Country  by  the  Roots ;  he 
wanted  Penetration  to  difcover  that  the  Jame  Hurricane, 
by  taking  a  contrary  Direftion,  might  fvveep  away  his 
own  "  bafelefs  Fabrlck,  and  leave  not  a  Wreck  behind.'''' 
His  Publications  were  numerous,  among  which,  his 
Treatifes  on  Natural  and  Experimental  Philofophy  dif- 
cover confiderable  Abilities  and  great  Application  ;  but 
his  religious,  or  rather  Irreligious  Tra^s,  abound  with  fuch 
Arrogance,  Egotlfms,  and  unpardonable  Indecencies,  that 
Charity  will  not  fufler  the  candid  Part  of  Mankind  to 
fuppofe  that  any   Chriftian  Society  will   ever  fandlion 

then^,, 


AP1>ENDI5C.  I^j 

them.  He  was  altogether  a  man  of  fuch  an  ambitious 
and  rejilcfs  Difpofition,  that  Heaven  and  Earth,  behold- 
ing his  Prefumption  in  endeavouring  to  unite  in  his  own 
Perfon  the  Chara6lers  of  Lucifer  and  Cromwell,  dif- 
claimed  him ;  which  coming  to  the  ears  of  his  black 
Friends  on  the  other  Side  of  the  Stygian  Lake,  they  una- 
nimoufly  ele6led  him  HIGH  PRIEST  in  the  Temple 
of  their  GREAT  MASTER. 

THIS  MONUMENT  was  ERECTED 
By  a  confiderable  Number  of  principled  and  difpaffionatc 
DISSENTERS,  who,  preferring  the  peaceable  Enjoy- 
ment of  real  Property,  to  the  infamous  Idea  of  living  on 
Plunder,  or  the  chimerical  one  of  equalizing  all  Ranks  and 
Orders  of  Men,  thought  it  their  Duty  to  publifh  and 
perpetuate  their  entire  Difapprobation  of 

GUNPOWDER  JOE'S  Political  Condud, 
And  their  utter  Abhorrence  of  his 

UNCHRISTIAN    DOCTRINES. 


No.  X. 

J  Letter  addreffed  to  the  People  of  England  in  the 
Public  Advertizer  for  Saturday,  Aug.  iS,  1792, 

^Qs  Jupiter  vidt  perdere,  prlus  dementat. 

WHOLE  nations   may  become  infane,  planet- 
flruck,  as  well  as  individuals.     God  Almighty  often  deli-^ 
vers  up  whole  nations,  as  well  as  individuals,  to  the  depra- 
vity 


X74  APPENDI5C» 

vlty  and  flagltloufnefs  of  their  own  vitiated  feelings,  the 
greateft  calamity  that  can  poffibly  befal  them*  Had  the 
French  exhibited  on  the  flage  of  the  world  no  other  proof' 
cf  their  having  loft  their  fenfes,  and  of  their  being  under 
the  immediate  flagillation  of  Heaven,  (Uh  God,  not  man 
alone,  that  precipitates  the  torrent  of  difajicrs  over  France  at 
the  prefcnt  tremendous  moment] ;  had  they  given  no  other 
proof  of  their  infanity  but  the  late  public  deification  of  that 
abandoned  fyflematical  profeflional  infidel,  Voltaire,  and 
their  more  recent  panegyric  on  Dr.  Prieftley,  of  prophane 
and  blafphemouc  memory,  the  ftiipendous  magnitude  of 
this  folly  would  have  demonftrated  and  juftified  th^  pro- 
priety of  taking  out  the  ftatute  againft  the  whole  body  of 
the  nation.  Whoever  made  a  panegyric  on  Judas,  but 
Lucifer  the  father  of  darknefs?  What  Roman  ever  praifed 
Catiline,  but  his  colleagues  Lentulus  and  Cethegus?  Who 
ever  called  the  two  incendiaries,  Tyler  and  Strav/,  honeft 
patriots,  but  Thomas  Paine  ?  Who  ever  thought  Jolm  the 
painter  a  worthy  candidate  for  fam.c,  but  an  Englifli  Jaco- 
bine?  Doubtlefs  there  is  fuch  a  thng  as  decency,  as  pro- 
priety, as  confiftency  of  condudl:  w^as  it  decent,  was  it 
a£ling  like  rational  beings,  to  hold  up  tvro  fach  callous 
dogmatical  profagatcs  in  opinion,  as  Voltaire  and  Prieftley, 
as  examples  of  excellence,  as  models  of  wifdom,  as  patterns^ 
to  be  followed  ?  Why  call  the  one  Socrates,  and  the  other 
Fenelon?  Was  not  this  moft  egregious  proftitution  of  lan- 
guage, moft  flagrant  abule  of  words  ?  Socrate?  and  Fenelort 
were  the  fliining  ornaments,  the  bright  luminaries  of  the 
age  they  lived  in;  they  were  public  bleffings;  t'.ey  were 
the  great  apoftles  of  virtue,  delegated  by  heaven  to  inftru6t 
and  meliorate  the  world  with  the  falubrious  dodlrines  of 
truth.  They  preached  nothing  but  goodnefs,  and  univer- 
fal  philanthropy  ;  and  were  themfelves  illuftrious  examples 
of  the  important  IcITons  they  taught.     But  what  do6lrines 

do 


APPENDIX,  i7_j 

^o  our  modera  philoibphers  preach?  Why,  they  very 
gravely  tell  us,  and  with  a  conhdence  as  if  they  really  be- 
lieved it,  that  revelation  is  nothing  but  a  folemn  impoflure, 
that  the  gcipel  is  a  fable  of  the  firft  magnitude,  the  Saviour 
a  fantaflic  idol,  a  phantom  of  imagination  ;  they  maintain 
and  prove  it  as  clear  as  any  proi>ofiLion  in  Euclid,  (if  yoa 
will  believe  them)  that  the  fou!  is  mortal,  that  the  goldea 
promifes  of  religion  are  idle  dreams,  fantaftiek  deluiions,  to 
eatch  weak  unenlightened  minds. 

Thefe  fanguine  and  laborious  emiffaries  of  darknefe 
preach  the  black  creed  of  infidelity  with  as  much  zeal,  ani 
afliduity,  as  the  apoflles  preached  the  creed  of  falvation. 
The  apoiUes  were'  not  more  ardent  to  propagate  and  dif- 
feminate  the  great  truths  of  Chriftianity,  than  thefe  mea 
are  flrenuous  and  indefatigable  in  their  endeavours  to  abo- 
lifh  them.  But  with  this  fignal  difference,  reader,  GoA 
evidently  co-operated  with  the  apoftles  in  the  firft  pi-oraul- 
gation  of  the  gofpel,  and  demonflrated  their  divine  mi/Tioa 
by  figns,  v/onders,  and  fplendid  miracles;  but  who  co- 
operates with  Voltaire  and  Prieflley  in  their  indefatigable 
efforts  to  abolifh  the  gofpel?  Beyond  a  doubt  the  great 
enemy  of  mankind,  tlie  father  of  lin,  is  with  them  tooth 
and  nail.  They  have  likev/ife  mofl  flrenuoufly  combating 
in  their  caufe  the  whole  tribe  of  ancient  and  modern  unbe- 
lievers, the  great  mz.k  of  atheifls,  freethinkers,  and  liber- 
tines, exiiling  in  the  world,  tlie  vafl  herd  of  recently 
corrupted  and  adulterated  Socinians;  add  to  thefe  the 
whole  crew  of  modern  philofophers  and  metapliyficians, 
(the  tarantulated  Humes  and  Roufleaus  of  the  day) ;  all 
thefe  militate  againfl  revelation,  litigate  the  great  truths  of 
Chriflianity,  with  as  much  rancour  and  acrimony  as  Vol- 
taire and  Prieilley.  They  have,  moreover,  mofl  flrenu- 
oufly combating  in  their  caufe  vain  prefumption,  impudent 
aflirtion,  dogmatical  opinion,  hcentious  afTumption,  uii- 
S  blu  filing 


J7^  APPENDItT. 

bluflilng  mifquotatlon,  wilful  mifreprefentatlons  of  au^ 
thors ;  all  thefe  co-operate  v/ith  Voltaire  and  Prieftley  itl 
propagating  the  black  creed  of  infidelity.  Will  you  praifd 
thefe  men  then  ?  Did  they  make  a  proper  \ife  of  the  talents 
God  had  fo  pre-eminently  gifted  them  with?  No,  they 
proflituted  their  abilities  to  the  moft  depraved  and  moil:  fla- 
gitious purpofes.  They  pointed,  emulouily  pointed  the 
great  gun  of  their  intellect,  the  whole  artillery,  the  whole 
battery  of  their  faculties  againji  the  very  God  who  gave  it 
them.  They  flretched  every  nerve  of  their  fouls  to  degrade 
and  extirpate  the  great  fundamental  truths  of  religion  ; 
they  laboured  morning,  noon,  and  night,  moft  anxioufly  to 
perfuade  the  world  to  ceafe  to  be  Chri/iian,  and  once  more 
to  become  Pagan^  to  relinquifli  revelation,  and  once  more 
adopt  the  religion  of  nature.  This  par  nob'de  fratrum,  this 
indefatigable  yoke  of  infidels  have  pra6lifed  every  logical 
knavery,  manoeuvred  every  fubtle  literary  fraud.  They 
have  exhaufted  the  v/hole  proteuifm  (if  we  may  fo  fpeakj 
of  chicane  and  finefie,  in  endeavouring  to  explode  and  abo- 
lifh  the  foothing  dodlrine  of  redemption,  the  grand  panacea 
of  the  gofpel,  the  only  infallible  antidote  againft  the  com- ' 
mon  unavoidable  ills  of  life,  the  noblejl  cordial  in  the  gift 
of  heaven.  This  golden  noftrum,  my  countrymen,  re- 
vealed to  you  by  our  Saviour,  thefe  lettered  bravos,  thefe 
fierce  infulting  Goliaths  of  argument,  thefe  wilful  mur- 
derers of  the  repofe  of  the  world,  want  to  rob  you  of.  In 
order  to  accomplifli  their  infernal  purpofe,  they  put  the 
gofpel  upon  the  bed  of  Procruftes;  if  the  text  is  Xoo  Jhort^ 
they  lengthen  it,  if  too  long,  they  curtail  it ;  if  neither  will 
anfwer  the  point,  they  boldly  amputate,  totally  annihilate, 
and  fwear  it  is  fpurious.  Are  thefe  men  then  hleffings  to  the 
world?  Are  they  of  benefit  to  mankind?  No!  they  are 
curfes  of  the  firft  magnitude ;  they  are  great  national  cala- 
mities, calamities  more  dreadful  than  nature's  word  cala— 

-  mities. 


APPENDIX.  177 

rnlties,  far  worfe  than  plague  or  earthquake;  thefe  only 
kill  the  body,  the  perifli^ble  part  of  man,  but  the  doc- 
trines of  thofe  men  infallibly  kill  the  foul,  the  im- 
mortal part  of  man,  that  is,  they  poifon  it,  and  prepare 
it  for  everlafting  perdition.  Drink  one  drop  of  the 
Lethe  of  their  creed,  and  you  are  loft  for  ever.  You 
are  tranfmuted- — you  are  changed — you  inftantly  for- 
get your  God — you  forget  you  are  a  man — you  matcrialife 
the  God,  and  you  brutaUfe  the  man— you  are  loft  to  every 
honeft  glow  of  the  hearty  dead  to  every  generous  manly 
fenfation ;  in  fliortj  you  are  as  literally  a  beajl  as  if  really 
touched  with  the  wand  C'lrcean.  To  lump,  accumulate, 
and  concentre  every  curfe  in  one,  you  are  a  Painift  in  your 
political,  and  a  Prieftleyan  in  your  religious  creed.  Could 
heaven,  in  the  plenitude  of  its  ire,  infiiifl  a  heavier  punifli- 
ment  on  you  ? 

You,  my  countrymen,  have  avoided  the  rock  the  French 
have  fo  miferably  fplit  on ;  you  are  fo  far  from  confecrat- 
ing  and  embalming  books  of  blafphcmy  and  treafon,  as  the 
French  have  done,  that  you  have  moft  fignally,  and  moft 
pointedly,  exprefled  your  abhorrence  and  deteftation  of 
both,  in  reprobating  in  the  moft  public  manner  the  works 
of  the  Paines  and  Prieftleys  of  the  age. — You  have  demon-' 
ftrated  to  all  Europe,  with  a  blaze  of  loyalty  almoft  unex- 
ampled in  the  annals  of  hiftory,  your  love  and  attachment 
to  your  king  and  country.  You  have  ftood  boldly  forward 
in  the  face  of  the  day,  the  ftrenuous  champions  of  the  no- 
bleft  caufe  that  ever  warmed  and  animated  the  heart  of 
man.  You  have  demonftrated  to  all  the  world,  in  the  moft 
fplendid  manner,  with  an  effuftonof  honeft  zeal  that  will 
do  honour  to  your  feelings  to  the  lateft  pofterity,  that  you 
will  no  longer  fnffer  your  conjVitut'ion  to  be  defamed^  vour 
religion  to  be  blafphemcdy  nor  your  king  to  be  calumniated  by 
2  gang   of  impoftors,    v.'ho   impudently   prefume  to    call 

N  themfeives 


178  APPENDIX. 

themfelves  Englillimen.     Can  that  man  be  an  Englifh- 
maa    who   labours    inceflantly   to  dt;fl:roy    the    civil    and 
ecclefiaftical    eftabhihment   of   the    country?    It    is  true, 
you   have    ihewn    mofl:    noble,    mofl:   manly    refentment, 
azainft  the  turbulent  incendiaries  of  the  times.     But  re- 
member,  my  countrymen,  Paine  and  Prieftley  flill  live; 
their  works  are  not  yet  buried : — one  rotten  fiieep,   they 
fay,  will  pollute  a  whole  flock  ;  a  little  leaven  will  agitate 
and'  feiment  a  large  mafs ;   two  turbulent  haranguing  fol- 
diers  have  been  known  to  make  a  whole  army  mutiny. 
Beware  of  thefe  men,  my  countrymen  !    One  of  them,  in 
ipite  of  the  penal  flatute,  will  fell  you  blafphemy  enough 
for  two-pence  to  contaminate  and  blaft  a  whole  county, 
and  the  other  treafon  enough  for  fixpence  to  convulfe  and 
difmember  a  whole  kingdom.     What  then  is  to  be  done 
with  thefe  callous,  hardened  delinquents?    What  further 
marks  of  public  deteftation  would  you  wifli  to  fix  on  them  ? 
The  grand  jury  of  Middlefex  (as  was  obferved  in  the  letter 
preceding  this)  prcfented  the  pofthumous  works  of  Boling- 
broke  as  public   nulfances.     Why    not   then,    my  coun- 
trymen,   prefent   the    works   of   Paine    and    Prieflley    as 
public   nuifances?    Are   they   not    nuifances  of  the    firfl 
magnitude,  of  the  mod  dangerous  tendency  ?  Contain  they 
not  do£lrines  declaredly  inimical  to  church  and  ftate  ?  de- 
claredly fubverfive  of  both  ?   Prefent  them,   then,  at  the 
next  grand  inqueft  of  the  nation,  at  every  county  affize  in 
the  kingdom,  and  infifl  on  their  being  burnt  by  the  hands 
of  the  common  hangman,  in  token  of  your  abhorrence — 
boldly  declaring  to  the  world,  as  hath  been  obferved  before, 
— that  you   vj'dl   no    longer  Jujfer   your   conjiitution    to   be 
blackened  and  reviled,  your  God  to  be  blafphemed,  nor  your 
King  to  be  calumniated  with  impunity. 

Cirencefler.  CAUSIDICUS. 


It 


APPENDIX.  179 

It  is  reported  in  Eufebius,  "  that  the  apoftle  St,  John  going 
"  one  day  into  a  pubhc  bath,  faw  Cerinthus  there,  one 
*'  of  the  firfl:  oppofers  of  the  Divinity  of  the  Saviour, 
*'  and  depravers  of  the  gofpel.  The  apoflle  inftantly 
**  retreated  at  the  fight  of  -fo  abandoned  an  infidel,  v^^ith 
**  the  ftrongeft  marks  of  abhorrence  and  indi<»-nation  in 
*'  his  countenance."  Dr.  Johnfon  being  on  a  vifit  to 
Pembroke  College,  Prieftley's  arrival  was  announced; 
the  moment  Johnfon  faw  him  enter,  he  retired  with  the 
greateft  precipitation,  impreiTed,  no  doubt,  with  the  fame 
ideas  as  the  apoftle  at  the  fight  of  Cerinthus.  Oa  the 
above  anecdotes  the  following  lines  are  built. 

JOHN  faw  Cerinthus  in  the  bath ;  he  faw 
The  monller,  and  lo  !   inftant  did  withdraw. 
Dreading  left  heaven  fhould  fudden  vengeance  fend. 
To  crufn  the  wretch  who  durfl  the  Ghiif>  offend  j 
To  crufh  the  wretch  who  durft  the  Chriji  Jchy, 
And  God  the  Father  in  the  Son  defy. 
Johnfon  _/2^'u'  Prieftley,  fa-w,  and  big  with  ire. 
Behold  !  the  good  old  man  with  fpeed  retire  ; 
Fearing,  no  doubt,  feme  fad  tren.endous  doom. 
With  fuch  a  rank  blafphemer  in  the  room. 
Th'  apoftle  and  the  fage  both  felt  the  fame  ; 
What  honeft  Chriftian  can  their  condudl  blame? 

CAUSIDICUS. 


N  %  No.  XL 


iSo  APPENDIX. 

No.  XI. 

Co^  of  an  Advertifement  in  the  Birmingham  Newf- 
paper  J  relating  to  the  Addrejs  to  me  from  the  Philo- 
Jophical  Society  at  Derby. 

ADVERTISEMENT. 

Derby,  Oft.  3,  1791. 
AN  aJdrefs  to  Dr.  Prieftley  having  been  inferted 
in  Mr.  Pearfon's  paper,  as  agreed  upon  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Philofophical  Society  in  Derby,  Sept.  3,  1791  i  it  is 
thought  expedient  by  fome  of  the  members,  who  were  not 
privy  to  the  addrefs,  who  cannot  approve  of  it,  and  who 
think  it  improper  a  few  individuals  fhould  pubhfh  their 
own  fentiments  as  thofe  of  the  fociety  at  large,  to  inform 
the  public,  that  the  faine  was  agreed  to,  and  fabricated  by 
only  five  members  of  the  fociety  out  of  thirty-feven ;  and 
that  in  confequence  thereof,  at  the  General  Annual  Meet- 
ing, on  Saturday,  October  firft,  the  following  refolution 
was  agreed  to :  That  in  future  no  aft  of  publicity  fhall 
be  carried  into  effeil,  except  at  an  annual  meeting,  or 
at  a  monthly  one,  a  fortnight's  previous  notice  being 
given  of  the  bufmefs  to  every  member  of  the  fociety. 


No.  XII. 

An  Anfwer  to  the  preceding  by  the  Society. 

SIR, 

AN  advertifement,  mifreprefenting  a  tranfac- 
tion  of  the  Philofophical  Society  at  Derby,  having  been 
inferted  in  a  late  newl'paper,  it  is  judged  proper  to  refute  it 
by  a  flatement  of  the  following  circumftances. 

I.   That 


APPENDIX.  i8i 

I.  That  all  buflncls  of  the  fociety,  viz.  the  eleding 
members,  ordering  in  books,  and  enading  new  laws  and 
regulations,  has  been  condantly,  fince  the  firfl  iaftitution 
of  the  fociety,  tranfaded  at  the  monthly  meetings. 

IL  That  of  thirty-fevcn  members,  thirteen  only  are  re- 
sident in  the  town,  and  that  the  addrefs  to  Dr.  Pneftley  was 
voted  unanimoufly  at  a  regular  monthly  meeting,  at  which 
was  prefent  the  ufuaL  number  of  attending  members,  and 
that  as  it  contained  no  reference  to  the  dodlor's  political 
opinions^  and  even  recommended  tQ  him  to  decline  thofe 
theological  controverfies  which  feem  bo  have  provoked  the 
vengeance  of  his  adverfaries,  it  was  conceived  that  no  man 
of  a  liberal  mind  would  objed  to  the  congratulating  him 
on  his  efcape  from  the  violence  of  an  enraged  mob ;  and 
that  there  could  be  no  member  of  a  phihjophical  fociety 
who  did  not  regret  the  demolition  of  his  valuable  labor^^tory 
and  manufcripts;  and  on  that  prefumption  they  judged  it 
unneceflary  to  delay  till  another  month,  a  meafure  v/hich, 
from  the  relation  in  which  Dr.  PrieiHey  (lands  to  all  phi- 
lofophical  focieties,  feemed  peculiarly  and  immediately  pror 
per  on  the  prefent  occahon. 

III.  That  at  the  half-yearly  meeting  on  the  fivfl:  of  Ocr 
tober,  Mr.  Hope  was  the  only  perfon  who  exprefTed  a  dif- 
approbation  of  the  addrefs,  declaring  that  his  reafon  for 
doing  it  was  his  differing  from  Dr.  Prieflley  in  political 
fentiments,  adding,  that  no  man  could  refped  the  doc- 
tor's religious  and  philofophical  opinions  rnore  highly  than 
himfelf. 

IV.  That,  when  the  late  propofition  v/as  made  for  giv- 
ing a  fortnight's  notice  previous  to  all  public  tranfadions 
pf  the  fociety,  fo  far  from  its  being  undedlood  to  be  a  cen- 
fure  on  the  addrefs,  (as  is  very  difmgenuoully  infinuated  in 
the  advertifement  referred  to)  the  gentlemai>  who  moved 
^he  propofition,  prefaced  it  by  declaring  that  he  intended 

N   3  nothing 


i82  APPENDIX. 

nothing  lefs  than  a  difapprobation  of  the  meafure ;  for  fo 
defiroTis  was  he  of  cxprefTing  his  iefpe6l  to  Dr.  Prieftley  ns 
a  philofopher,  and  his  abhorrence  of  all  perfecution  as  a 
rnan,  that  he  felt  a  fingular  mortification  at  having  been 
precluded  from  figning  the  addrefs,  by  not  having  received 
previous  information  of  fuch  a  circumftance  being  in- 
tended ;  and  that  on  that  account  alone  he  was  induced  to 
propofe  a  regulation  for  fimilar  occafions  which  might  occur 
in  future. 

The  members  of  .'he  philofophical  fociety,  refident  in 
and  near  Derby,  having  been  fummoned  to  an  extraordi- 
nary meeting,  cxprefsly  to  take  into  confideration  the  adver- 
tifement  in  the  Derby  newfpaper,  of  which  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hope  avowed  himfelf  to  be  the  author, 

It  was  refolved  unanimoiijly ^  by  ballot^ 
That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hope  having,  in  defiance  of  the 
refolution  made  at  the  laft  general  meeting,  committed  an 
a£t  of  publicity,  by  printing  in  the  Derby  newfpaper  the 
refolution  of  the  fociety  without  its  knowledge  or  confent, 
and  having  in  his  advertifement  infidioufly  mifreprefented 
an  a6t  of  the  fociety,  and  Mr.  Hope  having  been  this  day 
fully  heard  upon  the  fubje6l,  and  not  having  explained  his 
condu6t  to  the  fatisfaftion  of  the  meeting,  It  is  the  opinion 
of  this  meeting,  that  he  be  deiired  to  withdraw  his  name 
from  the  lift  of  the  fociety. 

■  Derby,  R.  ROE,   Secretary. 

Oft.  10,  1791. 


No.  XIIL 


APPENDIX.  r83 

No.  XIII. 

A  Bejcription   of  an  Allegorical  Medal  puhliJJje.d  at 
Birmingham  fince  the  Riot. 

This  Day  is  publifhed, 

DEDICATED  TO    ALL  REVOLUTIONISTS    IN  THE    BRITJSH 
DOMINIOKS, 

AN  ALLEGORICAL  MEDAL! 
1791-2.  ^ 

OBVERSE. 

THE  demon  or  evil  genius  of  the  14th  of  July, 
is  difplaying  her  democratic  ftandard ;  the  ilag  contains  a 
king's  crown,  furrounded  with  drops  of  blood,  alluding  to 
the  regicide  of  the  la{t  century.  On  the  top  is  a  cap  of 
liberty,  the  miftaken  idea  of  which  is  the  fource  of  all  her 
enormities.  The  young  fiends  flie  cherishes  proves  her 
prolific  wickednefs,  which  illuftrates  this  motto; 

"  OUR    FOOD    IS    SEDITION." 


R  E  FE  RS  E. 

A  Viper  in  the  grafs ; — this  charafter  cannot  be 
better  illuftrated  than  where  hiftory  proves  that  his  fubtilty 
brought  mifery  on  all  mankind.  He  here  partakes  of  the 
bleffings  of  heaven  and  earth,  at  the  fame  time,  in  fecrct 
covert,  is  premeditating  dcltru6tion  againfi  the  very  caufe 
of  his  comfort.     The  motto, 

"  NOURISHED    TO    TORMENT," 

/hews  the  refllefs   ingratitude  of  a  corrupt  and  difloval 
heart. 

N  4  No.  X|V, 


i84  APPENDIX. 

No.  XIV. 

An  Account  of  the  Clergy  of  Birmingham  refuftng  to 
walk  in  funeral  Proceffions  with  Dijfenting  Mem- 
bers fnce  the  Riot. 

IN  this  prefent  month  of  06lober  1792,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Scholefieldwasrequefledby  the  furviving  relatives  of  one 
of  his  hearers  (of  the  name  of  Thomfon)  to  attend  at  the 
funeral,  to  which  he  readily  aflented,  but  enquired  at  which 
of  the  churches  the  corpfe  was  to  be  interred,  and  whether 
the  clergyman  had  been  apprized  of  the  intention  of  the 
family  refpe6^ing  the  invitation  given  to  himfelf.    Thefe 
queftions  were  put  to  the  daughter  of  the  deceafed,  and 
before  fhe  had  replied  to  them,  the  fon  came  in,  who  had 
juft  then  been  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Young,  lefturer  of  St. 
Paul's  Chapel,   (where  it  was  intended  to  inter  the  corpfe) 
and  his  report  was,  that  when  he  gave  Mr.  Young  an  in- 
vitation to  attend  the  funeral  from  the  houfe  of  the  de- 
ceafed, he  very  readily  affented  ;  but,  upon  being  told  that 
Mr.  Scholetield  was  expedled  there,  and  that  it  was  hoped 
he  would  have  no  obje6lion  to  going  in  the  fame  coach 
•with  him,  he  faid,  at  firft,  that  he  did  not  know,  but  after 
a  very  fhort  paufe,  added,  "  the  clergy  of  the  town  had 
"  come  in  general  to  a  refolution  not  to  ride  or  walk  with 
*'  any  Diffeating  Minifter  at  a  funeral." 

This  declaration  from  Mr.  Young  is  the  more  remark- 
able, as  he  has  rode  in  the  fame  coach  vrith  Mr.  Schole- 
tield upon  a  former  fnnilar  occafion. 


No. 


APPENDIX.  185 

No.  XV. 

Extra5f  of  a  Letter  written  to  me  by  a  Per/on  who 
was  in  my  Library  during  the  Demolition  of  the 
Houfe,  in  Anfwer  to  one  in  which  I  had  requejled  his 
Evidence  concerning  it. 

Birmingham,  March  5,  1791. 
DEAR  SIR, 

I  DEEM  it  right  thus  immediately  to  inform  yon, 
that  I  did  not  arrive  at  your  houfe  till  after  the  deflruilioa 
of  the  library.  The  road  for  half  a  mile  of  my  approach 
was  ftrewed  with  your  books,  the  mob  were  carrying  others 
away,  and  there  was  not  above  twelve  o«5l:avos  on  the 
(helves  when  I  entered  the  room,  the  floor  of  which  was 
totally  covered,  two  or  three  inches  deep,  with  torn  leaves, 
chiefly  manufcript.  The  books  that  I  faw  colle(5led  at  the 
top  of  the  field  behind  the  houfe  with  part  of  the  furniture, 
were  thofe,  I  prefume,  which  were  the  only  ones  faved. 


No.  XVI. 

Jn  Addrefs  of  the  Bijfenters  and  Delegates  of  the  Dif- 
fenters  in  Englandy  to  the  Sufferers  in  the  Riot  af 
Birmingham. 

To  the  Proteftant  Diflenters  of  the  Town  and  Neighbour- 
hood of  Birmingham,  who  fufFered  from  the  Riots  which 
happened  in  the  month  of  July  laft. 

WE,  the  aflembled  deputies  and  delegates  of  the 
Proteftant  DiflTenters  of  England,  in  the  name  of  the  nu- 
merous and  refpedable  body  of  our  conlHtuents,   feel  it 

incumbent 


i86 

incumbent  on  tis  thus  publiclv  to  teftify  our  aftoniflimerst 
and  horror  at  the  outrages  which  you  have  experienced 
from  an  ignorant  and  mifguided  multitude,  and  our  refpe^l 
for  that  manly  fortitude  with  which  you  have  fupported 
thefe  unmerited  fufferings. 

While  however,  as  fuflaining  one  common  character, 
we  arc  anxious  to  pay  this  fmcere  tribute  of  afFeftionate 
and  fraternal  fympathy  to  all  our  injured  brethren,  we  are 
perfuaded  that  we  fnall  gratify  alike  vour  feelings  and  our 
own,  when,  waving  our  various  fpeculative  and  efpecially 
our  theological  differences,  we  defire  to  exprefs  our  pecu- 
liar concern  on  the  account  of  that  diftinguiflied  individual, 
whom  the  rancour  of  this  cruel  perfecution  fjleftea  as  the 
firfl  vi6lim  of  its  rage. — Deeply  convinced  of  the  import- 
ance of  truth,  y/e  \inite  in  admiring  the  ardour  which  he 
has  ever  difcovered  in  the  purfuit  of  it ;  as  freemen,  we  ap- 
plaud his  unremitted  exertions  in  the  great  caufe  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty  ;  as  friends  to  literature,  we  are  proud 
of  pur  alliance  with  a  name  fo  jufcly  celebrated  as  that  of 
Dr.  Prieflley;  and  we  pray  the  Almighty  Difpofer  of 
events  long  to 'continue  to  xis  and  to  the  world,  a  life  which 
fcience  and  virtue  have  contributed  to  render  illullrious. 

We  rejoice  in  the  thought,  that,  though  loaded  with 
calumny  and  overwhelmed  by  violence,  you  have  not  yet 
been  difgraced  by  one  ferious  imputation  of  a  crime  j  and  it 
is  therefore  reafonable  to  confide  in  the  juftice  of  your 
country  for  an  ample  reparation  of  the  wrongs  you  have 
fuil:ained. — But,  in  proportion  to  your  innocence,  the  in- 
famy of  thefe  proceedings  falls  with  accumulated  weight  on 
the  authors  and  the  perpetrators  of  fuch  mifchief ;  nor  can 
we  avoid  obferving  in  the  circumftances  of  this  tranfa£l:ion 
evident  fymptoms  either  of  fome  grofs  defect  in  our  general 
fyftem  of  police,  or  of  the  mofl  fupine  and  culpable  neg- 
ligence in  thofc  whofe  immediate  duty  it  was  to  have  pro- 

te£te4 


APPENDIX.  itj 

te6led  the  places  of  public  worfhip,  as  v/ell  as  the  lives  and 
property,  of  their  fellow-citizens;  and  we  truft  that  the 
executive  government,  which  exerted  fo  much  laudable 
adlivity  to  reprefs  the  diforders  on  the  firft  notice,  will  pro- 
ceed more  fully  to  vindicate  its  own  dignity  and  the  na- 
tional honour,  by  ferioufly  inquiring  how  it  came  to  pafj 
that  they  were  permitted  to  rife  unchecked  to  fuch  a 
height  of  deftrucSlive  fury. 

Whatever  may  be  the  event,  we  defire  to  afTure  you  of 
our  warmeft  affeftion,  of  our  fteadiell  fupport.  Although 
in  this  inftance  the  ftorm  has  fallen  on  you  alone,  we  all 
feel  ourfelves  to  have  been  equally  within  the  aim  of  the 
fpirit  which  dire6led  it ;  nor  ihall  we  ever  attempt  to  elude 
fmiilar  violence  by  meanly  abandoning  the  common  caufe, 
or  deferting  our  brethren  in  the  hour  of  diftrefs. 

Our  adverfaries  betray  little  acquaintance  with  the  cha- 
ra6ler  and  principles  of  the  men  whom  thev  prefume  to 
jnfult  and  vilify,  if  they  imagine  that  the  fpirit  of  the  Dif- 
fenters  is  to  be  fubdued  and  broken  by  the  means  which 
have  been  employed  at  Birmingham.  Such  meafures  can 
only  tend  to  cement  more  clofely  our  bond  of  union,  and 
to  invigorate  our  efforts  to  procure  the  repeal  of  thofe  invi- 
dious and  injurious  laws,  by  which  we  are  held  forth  as  the 
•  proper  objedls  of  fufpicion  and  infult  to  the  unthinking 
vulgar. 

Perfuaded  that  we  have  never  merited  thofe  abfurd  and 
rnalicious  imputations  by  which  ignorance  and  bigotry  have 
always  attempted  to  excufe  illegal  violence,  we  boldly  ap- 
peal for  our  juftihcation  to  our  general  condu6l,  whenever 
on  great  national  emergencies  we  have  been  drawn  forth  to 
a61;ion.  We  cannot  point  out  any  other  criterion  of  our 
principles  as  a  body,  than  the  uniform  tenor  of  our  public 
conduit.  We  know  that  on  fuch  occafions  we  fliall  be 
found  ever  to  have  fliewn  the  moll:  affedionate  and  inva- 
riable 


i88  APPENDIX. 

liable  attachment  to  the  conftitution  of  this  kingdom,  as 
fettled  on  the  principles  of  the  glorious  revolution,  on 
which  alone  depends  the  title  of  the  prefent  auguft  family 
to  the  Britifli  throne;  and  on  this  fair  and  open  ground 
we  challenge  any  clafs  of  our  enemies  to  a  comparifon. 

But  although  we  have  no  wifh  to  conceal  our  fentiments, 
yet  maintaining,  as  we  fhall  never  ceafe  to  do,  the  equal 
right  of  every  citizen  to  all  the  common  benefits  of  fociety, 
we  apprehend  that  to  call  on  us  to  purchafe  protection, 
fafety,  or  even  the  good  opinion  of  our  fcUow-fubjedts,  by 
any  avowal  which  the  law  does  not  require  of  all,  or  by  r.ny 
filence  which  it  does  not  univerfally  enjoin  ;  is  an  affump- 
tion  of  fuperiority,  which  liberal  minds  will  difclaim,  and 
to  which,  confcious  of  no  inferiority  but  in  numbers,  of  no 
guilt  but  the  love  of  liberty  and  of  our  country,  we  fee  not 
the  fmallefl  reafon  to  fubrnit. 

We  truft  that  our  countrymen  will  at  length  difcover 
that  it  is  not  our  fault  if  fome  degree  of  difcontent  be  ever 
the  efTeCl  of  opprefTion.  We  (liali  noi:  relinquifh  the  at- 
tempt to  convince  them,  that  civil  diflinctions  founded  on 
religious  differences,  are  the  real  fource  of  the  dilturbances 
which  have  fo  frequently  ari fen  among  contending  fefls  in 
the  fame  community;  and  we  flatter  ourfelves  that  Britain, 
which  formerly  took  the  lead  in  religious  toleration,  will 
not  be  the  lafl  nation  in  the  world  to  acknowledge  the  juf^ 
claims  of  religious  liberty ;  but  that  the  day  will  arrive 
much  fooner  than  thofe  imagine,  who  refle6l  not  on  the 
prefent  afpe6t  and  tendencies  of  human  affairs,  when  the 
good  fcnfe  of  our  country  will  admit  us  to  that  equal  rank 
for  which  we  contend,  and  when  all  fhall  cordially  concur 
to  efface  the  flain  which  the  late  outrages  have  fixed  on  ou^ 
national  chara£ler. 

Signed  by  the  unanimous  order  of  the  meeting, 

King  s  Head,  Poultry,  EDW.  JEFFRIES,  aiairniaa. 

London,  February  i,  1792. 


APPENDIX.  189 

No.  XVII. 
'The  Anjwer  by  the  Sufferers. 

To  the  Deputies  and  Delegates  of  the  Proteftant  Diflentere 
of  England,  affembled  in  London. 

Birmingham,  April  22,  I792. 
Gentlemen, 

WE  the  fufferers  by  the  late  riots  in  the  town 
and  neighbourhood  of  Birmingham,  were  highly  gratified 
by  the  reception  of  your  afi'ediionate  addrefs,  and  though 
local  circumftances  and  confiderations  have  retarded  our 
acknowledgment  of  it,  we  have  not  been  the  lefs  fenfible 
of  its  value,  or  unmindful  of  the  return  it  fo  forcibly  de- 
mands from  us.  Though  v/e  were  never  fo  fenfible  of  the 
value  of  our  common  faith  as  at  this  trying  period,  though 
its  invigorating  principles  were  not  before  this  sera  either 
juftly  known,  or  fully  experienced ;  though  we  have  derived 
continual  fupport,  as  well  as  unfpeakable  fatisfa^lion  and 
comfort  from  them,  yet  we  confefs  they  receive  frefli  energy 
from  the  friendly  fympathy,  and  the  truly  Chriftian  fpirit, 
which  you  have  manifdted  upon  this  trying  occafion. 

We  rejoice  that,  notwithftanding  all  the  opprobrium  our 
malicious  adverfaries  are  endeavouring  to  caft  upon  us,  vou 
have  the  firmnefs  and  generofity  to  ftep  forth  and  acknou'- 
ledge  us  as  brethren.  We  rejoice  that  at  the  very  inftaat 
in  which  our  common  principles  are  made  the  fubjedl  of 
general  cenfure  and  ridicule,  your  truly  refpedable  bodv 
has  given  public  teflimony  to  their  efficacy,  and  generoufly 
a6led  upon  them,  by  thus  holding  out  to  us  the  right  hand 
of  fellowfliip.  Perfecuted,  and  injured  as  we  have  been,  and 
ftUl  are,  an  addrefs  of  fympathy  and  condolence  from  io 

refpsdbble 


J90  APPENDIX. 

refpevStabre  a  body  as  the  affembled  deputies  and  delegates 
of  the  Proteftant  Diffenters  of  Englrnd,  fent  in  the  name 
of  your  numerous  conftituerits,  gives  us  a  fatisfa6lion  we 
cannot  defcribe,  and  affords  a  profpe6l  which  reanimates 
our  fpirits  and  revives  our  beft  hopes.  Fully  perfuaded  of 
the  truth  of  our  principles,  of  the  juftice  of  our  caufc,  and 
confcious  of  none  but  benevolent  views  in  our  public 
efforts,  we  are  determined  to  perfevere  in  fupport  of  thofe 
great  truths  which  have  been  too  long  concealed  from  the 
world. 

The  honourable  mention  you  make  of  that  noble  indi- 
vidual who  has  done  fo  much  to  enlighten  the  minds  of  his 
countiymen,  as  well  as  to  extend  fcience,  Xvas  by  no  means 
the  leafl:  pleafmg  part  of  your  addfcfs.  Nothing  but  the 
perfonal  fafety  and  happinefs  of  him,  at  whofe  praife  even 
the  tongue  of  fcandal  is  forced  to  be  filent,  co,uld  have  in 
any  degree  reconciled  us  to  his  lofs.  We  efleem  him  as 
the  friend  of  the  whole  human  race,  and  as  an  honour  to 
his  country ;  but  the  world  knows  not  his  value ;  his  country 
is  infenfible  of  his  worth.  The  full  efFe61:  of  his  flrenuous 
exertions  in  his  paftoral  duty  alone  cannot  at  prefent  be 
computed.  It  will  be  more  and  more  felt,  and  acknow- 
ledged. In  the  fpace  of  eleven  years  he  has  erected  a  mo- 
nument more  fubflantially  founded  than  the  pyramids 
of  the  Eaft,  and  infcribed  it  with  charadleis  which  fhall 
furvive  the  wreck  of  nature ;  we  mean  in  the  minds  of 
youth  enlightened  ?.nd  improved  by  his  inflrudlions. 

There  is  a  time  coming,  and  we  truft  it  is  at  no  great 
diftance,  when  the  foolifh  and  ignorant  perfons  who  per- 
petrated thofe  difmal  a6ts  wliich  you  lament,  and  v/hich 
we  cannot  think  upon  without  horror,  will  be  fenfiblc  of 
their  folly.  Pofterity  will  flamp  an  anathema  on  them. 
The  broad  blot  of  this  infimy  mull  alfo  remain  to  tarnifh 
the  annals   of  our  couni.ry,     Hiftory   mull  relate,    that 

at 


APPENDIX.  igj 

at  the  clofe  of  the  eighteenth  century  flie  moft  virtuous 
and  ufeful  members  of  the  community  of  Great  Britain, 
were  opprefTed  and  perfecuted  without  fympathy  from  the 
multitude,  and  that  a  mcft  difUnguilucd  indivklual  met 
with  opprobrium  and  infolence  from  a  country  which  he 
had  endeavoured  through  hfe  to  ferve  in  every  way  that 
benevolence,  fcience,  and  uprightnefs,  could  point  out. 
To  have  our  names  tranfmitted  to  pofterity  with  his,  as 
thofe  who  have  incurred  reproach  for  their  firm  adherence 
to  the  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  is  an  honour 
which  we  did  not  anticipate,  but  of  which  we  would  not 
be  deprived. 

Be  affured,  Gentlemen,  that  we  fhall  cheerfully  concur 
with  you  in  your  endeavours  to  obtain  the  repeal  of  all 
penal  fcatutes  in  matters  of  religion,  hoping  that  uuaai- 
mity  in  the  grand  principles  of  liberty  and  truth  will  unite 
the  common  body  of  Diffenters,  and  that  they  will  per- 
fevere  in  their  endeavours  till  thofe  intolerant  and  un- 
chrlftian  fliatutes,  which  have  fo  long  been  a  difgrace  to 
our  code,  Hiall  be  expunged  from  it. 

We  remain. 

Gentlemen,  &c. 

Signed  in  the  name,  and  with  the  unanimous  concurrence 
of  a  general  meeting  of  fuiferers, 

WILLIAM  RUSSELL. 


No.  XVIIL 


192  APPENDIX. 


No.  XVIII. 

An  Account  of  the  Alarm  andLofs  of  Mr.  Carpenter  of 
WoodroWj  in  a  Letter  from  his  Brother » 

W.RUSSELL,    ES(^DIGBETH,    BIRMINGHAM. 

Woodrow,  near  Bromfgrove,  May  9,  1792, 
SIR, 

THE  fiift  intelligence  we  had  of  the  riots  in  Bir- 
mingham, was  on  the  J5th  of  July,  but  being  extremely 
bufy  in  haymaking,  we  paid  but  little  attention  to  it, 
thinking  the  civil  power  would  foon  rcftore  every  thing  to 
peace  and  order  again.  However,  on  the  following  even- 
ing feveral  of  our  neighbours  who  had  been  at  Bromfgrove, 
came  to  inform  us  that  the  Woodrow  was  in  the  lift  of 
profcribed  houfes,  and  that  my  eldeft  brother's  life  was 
threatened.  This  alarmed  us  ;  but  my  brother,  not  choofing 
to  truft  to  thefe  reports,  went  to  Bromfgrove  to  gain  more 
authentic  information.  He  returned  about  eleven  o'clock, 
and  informed  us  that  the  reports  feemed  but  too  true,  that 
many  of  the  lower  clafs  of  people  in  Bromfgrove  feemed 
very  much  difpofed  to  rioting,  fome  of  them  calling  after 
him  as  he  rode  along  the  ftreet,  faying,  that  the  meeting- 
houfes  fhould  come  down  the  next  day,  and  curfing  the 
Preft^yterians  with  the  utmoft  bitternefs. 

At  twelve  o'clock  we  were  furprifed  by  a  poft-chaife 
driving  to  the  door ;  it  contained  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benton,  the 
nurfe  maid,  and  feveral  children :  they  came  to  beg  a  night's 
lodging,  as  they  durft  not  ftop  any  longer  fo  near  Birming- 
ham, either  in  their  own  houfe  or  with  their  friends ;  and  fo 
precipitate  was  their  flight,  that  they  were  obliged  to  bring 

the 


APPENDIX.  193 

ilie  children  out  of  bed  with  only  their  night  clothes  on — • 
Poor  little  innocents !  it  was  a  diftreffing  fight  to  fee  them, 
and  IHII  more  diftreffing  net  to  be  able  to  afFord  them  a  fafe 
afylum  :  for,  on  hearing  our  dangerous  iituation,  Mrs. Benton 
thought  it  moft  prudent  to  go  farther  on.  Brother  Tho- 
mas, myfelf,  and  a  neighbour,  then  went  to  the  top  of  the 
Lickey,  from  whence  we  could  plainly  fee  a  large  houfe  in 
flames  towards  Birmingham  ;  this  proved  but  a  poor  confo- 
lation,  and  we  returned  home  with  heavy  hearts.  At  fix 
o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  we  difpatched  two  raeflengers, 
one  to  Bromfgrove,  the  other  to  Birmingham.  The  latter 
returned  about  eleven  o'clock  with  an  account  that  a  large 
party  of  the  rioters  were  gone  to  burn  Kingfwood  Meeting, 
and  from  thence  they  would  proceed  to  the  Woodrow. 
My  brother  alfo  returned  from  Bromfgrove  with  fimilar 
inforraatiori.  I  immediately  took  our  moft  valuable  papei"S 
and  writings,  and  buried  them  in  a  neighbour's  garden.  It 
Was  alfo  thought  moft  prudent  to  remove  part  of  our  furni- 
ture ;  but  where  to  take  them  was  the  queftion,  as  our 
neighbours,  though  many  of  them  were  willing,  durft  not 
take  them  in,  for  fear  of  bringing  a  rtiob  after  them,  and 
thereby  endangering  their  property.  After  a  fl7.ort  conful- 
tation  it  was  thought  moft  advifable  to  fend  it  to  Kidder- 
tninfter.  Wc  immediately  packed  up  our  plate,  linen,  beds, 
books,  &c.  &c.  and  fent  off  three  waggon  loads  (including 
a  quantity  of  wool)  in  the  afternoon.  At  the  fame  time 
my  mother,  fifter,  and  youngeft  nephew,  went  to  Boar- 
cote,  where  they  found  an  afylum  at  the  houfe  of  Mr.  Cox, 
who  treated  them  with  the  utmoft  kindnefs.  We  fat  up 
all  night,  (indeed  we  had  never  a  bed  left  in  the  houfe,  had 
any  of  us  been  difpofed  for  one)  and  kept  a  ftrong  guard 
both  in  and  around  the  houfe. 

On  Monday  morning  we  had  information  that  the  rioters 
were  difperfed  in  parties  around  the  country,  committing 

O  various 


194  APPENDIX. 

various  depredations ;    ^rd  tliat  the  foldiers  were  too  fe"^  itii 
number  to  leave  Birmingham  in  purfuit  of  them. 

Parties  of  people  frc.m  Bromfgrove  and  its  vicinity  went 
to  join  the  rioters;  and  about  one  or  two  o'clock  a  number 
of  people  from,  this  neiglibourhood  re  'e.fted  together  upon 
Round  Hill,  half  a  mile  from  the  Wocdrow,  to  be  ready 
in  all  appearance  to  join  the  rioters  when  they  came.  In 
this  party  were  feveral  who  had  been  heard  to  threaten 
brother  John  in  t!re  mcifl  violent  manr'  r.  Things  wearing 
fuch  a  ferious  afpe6l  at  this  time,  v/e  thought  proper  to  re- 
move the  remainder  of  our  houfehold  effects,  wiiich  we 
conveyed  into  the  fields,  and  hid  among  the  corn,  or  buried 
in  the  earth.  Brother  Thomas  and  myfelf  :^l{o  removed 
o^^r  wheat  and  flour  from  the  mill.  A  very  violent  fliowcr 
happily  difperfed  the  people  on  Round  Hill,  and  alfo  pre- 
vented the  Birmingham  rioters  from  coming  forwards. 

About  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  a  gentleman  rode  to 
the  Woodrow,  and  faid  he  had  left  a  body  of  the  rioters  on 
the  top  of  the  Lickey  marching  towards  the  Woodrow, 
their  number  uncertain.  Brother  John  tlren  determined 
to  defend  his  houfe,  and  defired  his  men  to  prepare  for  ac- 
tion; but  at  length,  from  the  exceiTive  importunity  of  thofe 
sbout  him,  he  gave  it  up,  and  left  his  houfe  for  the  iirft 
time,  with  the  m-elancholy  profpe61:  of  never  feeing  it 
again.  He  had  not  rode  more  than  a  mile  before  he  fell 
in  with  fifteen  or  fixteen  rioters  with  blue  cockades  in 
their  hats,  and  armed  with  bludgeons.  On  my  brother's 
inquiting  where  they  were  going,  feveral  of  them  anfwer- 
ed}  to  burn  Mr.  Carpenter'' s  houfey  according  to  orders  from 
jujlice  Carles.  My  brother  perceiving  they  did  not  know 
him,  faid.  Why,  I  thought  Mr.  Carpenter  was  a  good  fort 
of  a  man,  why  ihould  you  wiih  to  burn  his  houfe  ?  The 
anfwer  wms,  he  may  be  a  very  good  fort  of  a  man  for  all  we 

know. 


APPENDIX.  195 

It  now,  but  we  have  jitflice  Carles' s  orders^  and  down  it  fliall 
Come.  On  being  afked  for  what  reafon,  they  faid,  for 
being  at  the  hotel.  My  brother  tlien  told  them  they  had 
better  go  to  Bromfgrove,  and  get  fomething  to  drink,  and 
fome  more  gentlemen  coming  up,  and  giving  the  lame  ad- 
vice, they  thought  bed:  to  follow  it. 

The  next  morning  (Tuefday),  on  their  return  from 
Bromfgrove,  they  called  at  the  Woodrow  to  beg  fomething 
to  drink,   and,  while  brother  Thomas  went  to  draw  fome 
beer,  they  attempted  to  go  into  the  houfe,  but  our  men  pre- 
vented th6n.     After  pillaging  feveral  of  the  poor  people's 
houfes  as  they  went  along,  they  flopped  at  a  public  houfe 
about  two  miles  from  the  Woodrow.     Brother  John  re- 
turned home  about  half  an  hour  after  the  rioters  went 
away ;  and,  as  foon  as  he  heard  where  they  were,  fet  off  to 
Birmingham  to  procure  fome  foldiers,  and  take  them  pri- 
foners.     In  the  mean  time  a  Mr.  Lane,  who  faid  he  was  a 
conftable  from  Birmingham  (and  who,   as  I  am  fince  in- 
formed, died   through  excefuve  fatigue  in  the  zealous  per- 
formance of  his  duty),  called  at  the  Woodrow,  and,  on 
my  informing  him  where  the  rioters  were,  faid  he  v/ould 
go  and  take  them  if  I  could  get  fome  resolute  people  we 
eould  depend  upon  to  go  with  us.     I  immediately  rode  to 
Bromfgrove,    and  called  feveral  of  my  friends  together, 
whom  I  found  willing  to  join  us;  but  as  no  member  of  the 
eftabliflied  church  would  go  with  us,  it  was  given  up  for  fear 
of  giving  offence.     My  brother  returned  from  Birmingham 
in  the  evening,  and  gave  the  following  account  of  his  in- 
terview with   the  juftices.     On  his  introdudioh  he  in- 
formed them  that  a  party  of  the  rioters  had  been  at  his 
houfe  that  morning,  and  came,  as  they  informed  him,  the 
preceding  evening,  by  the  order  of  juftice  Carles,  to  burn 
his  houfe  down ;  and,  as  he  knew  where  they  were,  bep-o-ed 
the  favour  of  half  a  dozen  light  horfe  to  fecure  them  :  but 

O  %  this 


iij6  APPENDIX. 

^his  reqtiert  not  being  granted,  my  brother  offered  to  take 
them  without  the  affiftance  of  the  military,  if  it  met  witk 
their  approbation :  but  their  approbation  was  not  given. 
Mr.  Carles  afked  my  brother  if  be  knew  ever  an  honelt 
Prefovterian  about  the  Lickey  ?  My  brother  faid  he  did  not 
come  there  to  talk  about  religion,  he  wiihed  to  prove  him- 
felf  a  good  citizen,  and  thought  he  was  doing  his  duty  by 
endeavouring  to  fecure  a  fet  of  lawlefs  villains  who  were 
plundering  the  innocent  inhabitants  of  the  country.  My 
brother  was  aiked  if  he  was  at  the  hotel  on  the  14th  of 
July? — Yes.  What  toafts  did  you  drink? — Several;  the 
kins,  for  one.  We  don't  believe  it, — It  is  true.  Will  vou 
fwear  it? — Yes.  Dr.  Spencer  then  offered  him  a  bible  for 
that  purpofe:  my  brother  was  going  to  take  it,  when  the 
Do6tor  changed  his  mind,  and  put  the  book  down. 

It  is  inconceivable  the  fatigue  we  undervt^ent,  and  tlic 
ahxiefv  we  felt  during  the  riots..  On  tlie  Monday  I  was 
on  horfe'nack,  reconnoitring,  &c.  near  fifteen  hours,  anil 
wet  to  the  fkiri  through  two  great  coats,  and  was  at  kft  fo 
Overcome  with  fatigue  that  I  could  fcarcely  fit  on  my 
horfe.  Brother  Thomas  put  on  his  boots  on  Sunday  moru- 
ingi  and  did  not  pull  them  off  till  W^ednefday  night.  Mv 
mother  and  fifter  were  in  continual  fear  left  brother  John 
{liould  lofe  his  life,  as  it  was  fo  repeatedly  threatened.  W^e 
edimate  our  lofs  in  damage,  lofs  of  poperty,  expences,  Sec. 
at  near  60I. 

I  am,  fir, 

Y'our  moft  obedient  fervant, 

wm.  carpenter. 

P.  S.  A  man  whom  we  fent  to  gain  intelligence  on  the 
Sunday,  fell  in  with  the  rioters  at  Mr.  Wakeman's  houfe 
near  Kingfwood :  he  faw  the  general,  as  he  was  ftylcd, 

pulJ 


APPENDIX.  f.97 

^ull  a  paper  out  of  his  pocket,  which  feemed  to  be  a  Hft  of 
houfes,  and,  on  looking  over  it,  faid,  "  that  houfe  was  to 
*'  come  down;  but,  as  Mr.  Wakeman  had  behaved  fo 
*'  well,  it  fhould  flop  a  little  longer,  but  that  they  would 
•*'  come  back,  and  pull  it  down  before  the  next  morning." 


"•^ 


No.  XIX. 


Ai  Account  of  the  High  Church  Spirit  which  has  long 
prevailed  at  Stourbridge. 

AS  the  violent  High  Church  fpirit  which  produced 
the  riot  at  Birmingham  has  been  generally  afcribed  to  me,  I 
have  taken  fome  pains  to  inquire  into  the  ftate  of  fome  of 
the  neighbouring  places  in  that  refpe6t ;  and  thinking  that 
from  Stourbridge  (which  it  is  fomething  remarkable  I  never 
was  at  except  in  once  riding  through  it)  to  be  as  much  to 
my  purpofe  as  any,  I  ihall  give  it,  as  colleiled  from  dif- 
ferent perfons,  whofe  accounts,  I  have  no  dDU,bt,  may  be 
depended  upon. 

The  Prefbyterian  church  at  Stourbridge  was  founded 
by  Mr.  Foley,  an  anceflor  of  the  prefent  Lord  Foley, 
the  members  of  which  church  firlT:  affembled  in  his  houfe 
for  pubhc  worfhip.  This  houfe  has  fmce  been  con- 
verted to  an  inn,  and  the  room  now  called  the  Old  Affem- 
bly  Room  was  the  room  ufed  for  that  purpofe.  Mr.  Fo- 
ley's dpmeftic  chaplain  (a  Mr.  Flower)  was  their  pallor 

^3  ,% 


198  APPENDIX. 

for  many  years.  About  this  time  the  faid  Mr.  Foley 
ere6led  a  large  building  for  the  reception  of  fixty  poor  boys, 
whom  he  dire6ted  ihould  be  clothed  in  a  blue  uniform, 
lodged  and  boarded  in  the  houfe,  and  taught  reading,  writ- 
ing, and  merchants'  accounts;  and  that  afterwards  they 
fhould  be  placed  out  with  a  fmall  premium  to  fuch  trades, 
and  to  fjch  maflers,  as  the  boys  and  their  parents  fhould  ap- 
prove of.  This  good  man  lived  to  fee  his  benevolent  defign 
carried  into  execution  ;  and,  having  amply  endowed  the 
charity  with  confiderable  eftates,  it  has  continued  to  this 
day  to  anfvver  the  ends  for  v^^hich  it  was  intended,  as  many 
opulent  tradefmen  now  living,  who  were  educated  there, 
can  with  gratitude  teflify.  For  feveral  years  laft  paft  the 
feoffees  of  this  infcitution  have  not  permitted  any  Diflenter 
to  take  a  boy  from  the  fchool  as  an  apprentice. 

A  DifTenting  tradefman  now  living,  who  had  an  ap- 
prentice from  thence  about  thirty  years  fmce,  applied  for 
one  fome  years  afterwards,  and  was  told  by  the  feoffees, 
that  his  requeft  could  not  be  complied  with,  as  it  was  their 
determination  that  no  DilTenter  fhould  have  a  boy  from 
that  fchool. 

A  gentleman  of  Bewdley,  now  living,  applied  about  ten 
years  fince  for  an  apprentice :  the  firll:  queftion  the  feoffees 
afkcd  him  was,  whether  he  was  a  Diffentcr,  and,  upon  re- 
plying in  the  affirmative,  he  received  the  fame  anfwer  *. 
Knowing  that  the  founder  of  the  inftitution  was  a  DifTent- 
er,  one  would  have  thor.ght  that  the  principles  of  common 
integrity  would  have  prevented  them  from  fuch  a  fhame- 
ful  perverflon  of  the  intenrion  of  the  donor:  but,  where  bi- 
gotry fupplies  the  place  of  chanty  and  candour,  fhame  is 

*  I  have  frequently  heard  that  tlie  feoffees  are  equally  careful  in  preventing 
the  children  of  poor  Diifer.tcrs  from  gaining  an  admittance  into  the  faid  School. 

generally 


APPENDIX.  199 

generally  difcarded,  and  every  profeirion  of  virtue  is  little 
more  than  a  tinkling  cymbal. 

Owing  to  the  mifmanagemcnt  of  a  former  fleward,  the 
feoffees  were  lome  years  back  much  involved  in  debt,  and 
were  oblired  to  take  long  credit  with  goods  bought  for  the 
life  of  the  houfe,  fo  that  nothing  induced  many  tvadefmen 
to  continue  to  fupply  them  but  the  expectation  of  their' 
being  better  cuflomers  in  future,  which  the  llev/ards  air- 
ways affured  them  would  be  the  cafe  in  a  few  years.  A 
DiiTenting  tradefman  of  Stourbridge,  who  had  fupplied 
them  for  many  years,  and  with  whom  they  ufually  took  a 
credit  of  two  ar  three  years,  was  informed  about  eight 
or  ten  years  fmce  by  the  then  ffceward,  who  called  to  difr- 
charge  the  account  with  the  faid  tradefman,  that  he  had 
orders  from  the  ftoilees  to  go  elfewhere  for  the  goods  in 
future.  The  tradefman  being  naturally  defirous  of  know- 
ing the  reafon  of  their  leaving  hirri,  after  having  done  bufi- 
nefs  with  him  for  fo  many  years,  was  importunate  with 
the  fleward  to  be  fatisiied  on  that  head,  to  which  (after 
much  liefitation)  he  replied,  that  they  did  not  wilh  to  do 
bufmefs  with  DiiTenters.  Upon  this  the  tradefman  defired 
to  know  how  this  objeftion  never  occurred  to  them  before, 
which  was  fully  explained  by  the  fleward,  who  faid,  that 
formerly  thcv  were  obliged  to  get  goods  where  they  could, 
but  that  now,  as  feveral  leafcs  of  eftates  had  dropped,  theif 
^finances  were  in  fuch  a  flate  tliat  the  feoffees  were  enabled 
to  pay  ready  money  for  all  the  goods  they  bought,  a!]d, 
therefore,  were  determined  now  to  buy  of  no  DilTenter. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  one  of  the  prefent  feofTecs 
has,  or  formerly  had,  in  his  poirelTion  a  bull  of  the  late 
pretender  ;  and  that  his  father  was  one  of  a  party,  whofe 
ufual  pra6tice  it  was  at  their  convivial  meetin!:;s  to  fall  up- 
on their  knees  before  the  faid  bull,  and  drink  each  of  them 

O  4  their 


ftoo  APPENDIX. 

their  firil:  r^lafs  to  the  reftoration  of  the  Stuart  family  tq 
the  throne  of  thefe  kingdoms.  Thefe  are  the  men  who, 
with  matchlefs  effrontery,  would  now  perfuade  the  nation 
that  they  are  the  only  true  friends  of  the  conftitution*. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Foley,  the  congregation  of  Dif- 
fenters  met  for  public  worfhip  in  a  meeting  houfe  in  the 
Coventry   ftreet;    and   about   the  year  ,    the  High 

Church  party  aflembled,  and  by  violence  tore  up  the  pews 
and  pulpit,  which  they  burnt  with  the  minifter's  bible,  in 
the  midll:  of  the  market.  This  atrocity  the  court  very  pro- 
perly noticed,  brought  the  perpetrators  thereof  to  punifh- 
inent,  and  ordered  the  place  to  be  new  pewed,  the  expence 
of  which  was  paid  out  of  the  treafury.  I  have  heard  of  no 
abfolute  violence  exercifed  againll  the  Diffenters  of  that 
town  Unce  that  period;  but,  until  the  prefent  re6lor  of  thq 
parifh,  of  which  Stourbridge  is  a  part,  came  to  refide  there,  a 
fliffnefs  and  unkindnefs  on  the  part  of  the  Epifcopalians 
was  obfcrvable  towards  them.  Two  circumflances  which 
happened  in  one  family  will  tend  to  fatlsfy  any  perfon  of  thq 
truth  of  this  remark. 

A  clergyman  of  the  parifli  having  been  Invited  to  the 
funeral  of  a  Diffenter,  and  obferving,  upon  his  being  in- 
troduced into  the  room  where  the  bearers  were  afiembled, 
that  Mr.  Edge,  the  Diffentiiig  minifter,  was  one  of  the 
party,  left  the  houfe  in  anger,  and  fent  his  clerk  to  apolo- 
gize for  his  conducl  by  faying  that,  "as  he  could  not  rid^ 
♦'  with  Mr.  Edge,   if  they  would  fend   his  hatband  an^ 

*  The  enmity  of  this  gentleman  to  the  Difllnters  may  in  fome  meafure  be 
accounted  for.  An  anceftor  of  his  having  by  will  left  a  large  fum  of  money 
to  the  fp.iher  of  the  faid  gentleman,  in  trtj  3  t,  to  be  divided  among  the  indi;;eBt 
Diffenting  minilters  of  tiie  midland  counties;  and  he  having  thougiit  ht  to  appty 
the  fame  to  h's  own  ufe,  the  afl'jciatcd  body  of  minifters  in  London  undertook 
the  caufe,  which  was  at  length  brought  before  the  Lord  Chancellor  King,  v/ho 
awarded  the  mon  -y  to  be  app'ied  as  the  teftator  directed,  and  the  whole  of  the 
c-jfts  ( .vhich.  were;  confidcrable)  to  be  paid  by  the  trultce. 

"  fcaru 


APPENDIX.  201 

^f  fcarf,  lie  would  meet  tlie  corpfe  at  the  church."  The 
hatband  and  fcarf  were  very  properly  refufed,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  bury  the  corpfe  without  them. 

Another  clergyman  of  the  parifh  being  invited  tea  fune- 
ral in  the  fame  family,  and  having  an  equal  diflike  to  ride 
with  the  Diflenting  miniller,  had  the  art  to  difguife  that 
diflike  until  he  had  procured  his  hatband  and  fcarf,  and  till 
the  proceiTion  was  ready  to  move,  when  he  galloped 
through  the  town  before  the  hearfe  to  the  ^ftonifliment  of 
the  fpeftators.  The  names  of  thefe  clergymen  were 
Brown  and  Male,  and  the  fafcs  are  perfe61Iy  in  the  re- 
membrance of  many  perfons  now  living:  but  it  is  juftice 
due  to  Mr.  Male  to  fay  that  he  lived  to  fee  the  folly  of  his 
condu6l,  and  afterwards  became  a  very  liberal  man. 

As  was  hinted  before,  the  intercourfe  between  the  people 
of  the  Eflablifhment  and  the  Diflenters  of  Stourbridge  was 
mxich  increafed  by  the  prefent  re6lor  fettling  among 
them.  Soon  after  he  came  he  requefled  to  be  admitted  a 
member  of  a  reading  fociety  belonging  to  the  Diflenters, 
which  had  been  eftablifhed  near  forty  years,  and  of 
yi^hich  the  Diflenting  miniflier  was  tlie  prefident ;  his  ad- 
miflxon  was  followed  by  that  of  many  gentlemen  of  the 
church,  and  the  frequent  meetings  to  tranfa6l  the  buiinefs 
of  the  fociety  tended  very  much  to  rub  off"  that  fliffnefs 
which  had  before  been  obfervable  in  their  condu6l  towards 
each  other.  Upon  the  refignation  of  the  Diflenting  mi- 
nifter  another  Diflenter  was  chofen  prefident;  and  the 
fame  unanimity  continued  to  prevail  until  the  fociety  was 
diflblved  for  the  purpofe  of  forming  a  different  inftitution. 
The  Diflenters  were  thus  led  to  fuppofe  that  the  former 
hatred  of  them  by  the  Church  was  done  away,  and  they 
were  pleafmg  themfelves  with  the  perfuafion,  until  th« 
|>reaking  out  of  the  riots  at  Birmingham  coinpletely  con- 
vince; 


202  APPENDIX. 

I'ince  them  of  tlieir  miftake.  For  no  fooner  did  tlie  news 
reach  Stourbridge,  but  the  mofl:  violent  invedtives  were 
poured  forth  againft  the  Diffenters  by  t':ie  fame  perfons  who 
had  before  profefTed  fo  much  hberality  and  kindnefs  to- 
wards them.  Every  thing  was  faid  which  could  tend  to 
ftir  up  the  minds  of  the  people ;  the  circulation  of  the 
handbill  was  charged  upon  a  Diffenter,  the  report  was 
propagated  with  great  induftry,  and  they  heard  frojn  all 
quarters  that  their  meeting  houfe,  and  the  houfes  of  the 
Diffenters,  would  be  levelled  with  the  ground.  The  public 
jhoufes  were  feveral  of  them  filled  witli  men  who  were 
ready  to  embark  in  the  diabolical  bufmefs ;  and,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  vigilance  of  an  a6live  magiilrate,  God  only 
knows  what  would  have  been  the  confequence. 

Thus  difappointed,  they  evinced  their  determination  to 
injure  their  Diffenting  brethren,  by  withdrawing  their  cuf- 
tom  from  the  fliops  of  Diffenters,  fome  of  whom  find  their 
bufinefs  much  decreafed.  One  tradefman,  who  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  fupplying  many  of  the  firfl  families  in  the 
neiglibourhood  with  goods,  loft,  immediately  after  the 
riots,  thirty  families  who  had  for  years  had  ledger  accounts 
with  him,  befides  many  other  ready  money  cuftomers,  and 
yet  could  never  hear  of  the  leaft  charge  which  they  had 
againft  him,  except  that  of  his  being  a  Diffenter. 

Some  time  before  the  Birmingham  riots,  the  minifter  of 
a  congregation  of  Diffenters  at  Cradley,  near  Stourbridge, 
interefted  himfelf  in  procuring  a  fubfcription  for  building  a 
meeting  houfe  at  a  place  called  the  Lye-wafte,  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  Stourbridge,,  a  very  populous  neigh- 
bourhood, where  the  people  are  extremely  ignorant,  and 
where  there  is  no  place  of  worftiip  of  any  denomination. 
The  faid  minifter,  and  the  minifter  of  the  congregation  at 

Stourbridge^ 


APPENDIX.  203 

Stourbridge,  had  engaged  to  preach  ahernately  when  the 
place  ihould  be  erected,  without  any  falary,  a6luated  by  no 
other  motive  than  the  defire  of  doing  good.  Having  pro- 
cured a  fufiicient  fubfcription  for  the  purpofe,  they  appHed 
to  a  gentleman  of  Stourbridge  for  land  to  ere6l  the  build- 
ing upon,  who  readily  told  them  they  might  have  which 
ever  part  of  his  eflate  they  chofe  ;  in  confequence  of  which 
the  land  was  meafured  out,  and  a  price  was  fixed  on  it 
by  an  appraifer,  which  price  was  agreed  to  by  both  parties; 
an  attorney  was  fent  for,  who  received  inftrudlions  in  the 
prefence  of  both  to  prepare  articles  of  conveyance;  and 
bricks  were  drawn  upon  the  fpot  for  the  building :  yet, 
notwithftanding  all  this,  he  afterwards  refufed  to  let  them 
have  any  part  of  it.  After  the  Birmingham  riots,  other 
gentlemen  who  had  land  at  the  Lye-v/afte  were  applied  to, 
but  they  all  refufed  to  fell  their  land  for  fuch  a  purpofe. 
After  this  the  minifter  of  Cradley  waited  upon  the  reftor 
of  the  pariih,  and  affured  him  that  he  had  no  intention  of 
dijHeminating  any  peculiar  dodrines,  that  his  only  motive 
was  to  ferve  the  heft  interefts  of  his  neighbours,  and  that,  if 
the  people  of  the  eftablifliment  would  fubfcribe  towards 
building  a  church,  he  would  abandon  his  defign,  and  affift 
them  in  theirs :  but  this  good  young  man  has  been  unable 
to  accomplifh  either ;  and  the  money  now  lies  unemployed, 
and  the  poor  of  that  diftri6l  uninftrucSled. 

Some  months  previous  to  the  Birmingham  riots,  the 
Stourbridge  Diffenters  had  engaged  a  London  minifter  to 
preach  a  charity  fermon  at  their  meeting  houfe,  on  the 
fecond  Sunday  in  Auguft  (which  was  foon  after  the 
riots  happened) ;  and  it  is  a  little  remarkable  that  the 
re£lor  of  the  parifli  advertifed  a  charity  fermon  to  be 
preached  by  himfelf  in  his  own  church,  on  the  fame  day, 
though  no   charity  fermon  had  been   preached  in   that 

church 


204  APPENDIX. 

diurch  for  fome  years  before.  As  the  notice  was  fhort, 
the  fermoii  was  advertifed  by  handbills  diftributed  through 
the  parifla,  in  confequence  of  which  the  church  was  ex- 
tremely crowded ;  and,  though  it  was  profefledly  a  charity 
fermon,  the  greateil;  part  thereof  confifted  of  inve6lives 
againfl:  the  Diffenters  of  Stourbridge  and  Cradley,  and  of 
charges  againft  the  managers  of  their  Sunday  Sch<x)]s 
which  had  no  foundation  in  fa6l.  The  Diffenters  not  be- 
ing prefent,  could  only  hear  this  account  from  thofe  liberal 
churchmen  who  heard  the  fermon,  and  who  were  much 
difguficd  with  the  virulence  of  the  preacher.  Some  Dif- 
fenters of  both  congregations  waited  upon  the  redlor  to 
deny  the  charges,  and  to  fatlsfy  him  of  their  untruth — 
tills  they  were  enabled  to  do ;  upon  which  he  acknow- 
ledged that  he  had  made  them  upon  the  teftimony  of  a 
woman  of  diffipated  charafter.  However  he  promifed  to 
contradlft  what  he  found  he  had  aiferted  without  good 
foundation,  and  to  do  it  in  every  company  where  he  had 
an  opportunity  ;  but  whether  he  has  performed  his  pro- 
mife  or  not,  has  not  yet  com.e  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
Dificnters.  However  the  DKTenters  have  it  now  in  their 
power  to  bring  ferious  charges,  and  to  eflablifh  them  as 
fa6ls,  againft  the  managers  of  the  Church  Schools.  They 
can  prove  that  a  mlnlfter  refiding  in  the  parifli  threatened 
a  poor  vs^afliervv-oman  with  the  lofs  of  her  employment  in 
his  family,  if  (lie  did  not  take  her  child  from  the  Prefby- 
tyerian  School.  And  yet  it  is  well  known  in  the  parlfli 
that  the  Diffenters  inftru(Sl  the  children  of  their  fchools 
in  no  other  than  the  common  do61:rlnes  of  Chriftianity, 
in  vv^hich  all  Chriftians  agree.  Thefe  are  fome  of  the 
fcandalous  proceedings  of  thofe  who  call  themfelves  the 
4ifclples  of  him  who  went  about  doing  good. 

The  interell  of  feveral  fviins  of  inoney  is  annually  dif: 

tributc4 


APPENDIX.  fi05 

trlbutcd  to  the  poor  of  the  pariili  in  bread  and  cloathing, 
and  lately  the  reftor  of  the  parilli,  and  the  minifter  of  the 
chapel,  have  been  accuftomed  to  interrogate  the  paupers 
who  apply  for  the  faid  donations,  refpe(?ting  the  church  to 
which  they  belong ;  and  thofe  who  arc  found  to  attend  the 
Prelhyterlan  meeting-houfe  lofe  the  benefit  of  the  faid 
charities. 


ADDIT10X8 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 

After  p,  52,  add — The  behaviour  of  one  of  my 
inaid  fervants  affords  a  pretty  ftrong  prefumption  that  fome 
mifchief  was  dellgned  me  en  the  fourteenth  of  July,  and 
that  {he  was  apprized  of  it.  She  afked  leave  to  go  and  fee  her 
friends  forae  days  before,  and  defired  to  ftay  a  few  days  after 
that  time.  When  flie  went,  ihe  dehred  the  fervant  boy  to 
write  to  her  "  if  any  thing  happened."  She  not  only 
was  not  folicitous  about  the  clothes  fhe  loft,  but  evidently 
dreaded  being  obliged  to  attend  the  aflizes.  When  flie  was 
fubpoenaed,  though  on  the  part  of  our  opponents,  fhe  endea- 
voured to  evade  it,  by  denying  her  name  ;  and  flie  either 
a61ually  went  to  Ireland,  or  her  friends  pretended  that  fhe 
did,  fo  that  fhe  could  not  be  found  at  the  time.  Some  of 
her  connections  were  with  the  High  Church  party,  and 
from  forne  of  them  it  is  not  improbable  fhe  received  a  hint 
that  it  wruld  be  better  for  her  to  be  out  of  the  w?.y.  Many 
othe"  perfon'^  in  the  lowr.r  clai^-;  nppear  now  to  have  had 
the  fa.ne  appre^  ' :  I'lo'^s  ,,,.,.     Nothing  of  this,  how- 

ever, came  to  my  knowledge,  and  I  had  no  more  apprehen- 
fioii  of  any  fuch  t!^  "  ''-  -  '  '  '  -t  any  other  time  in 
my  life. 

P.  52. 1.  T  6.     Read — wkb  refpetl  lO-vjhkh  'd  does  not  ap' 
pear  that  he  had  any  proper  author it}r 

P.  55.  1.  2.     Read—  f6s«  -wilt  make  a  damned  good  cock. 

P,  59.  1.  16.     Read — on  Sunday  the  other  magijlrate. 

P.  72. 


ADDITIONS,  &<^.  207 

V.  72. 1.  2.  from  the  bottom.  He  has  alfo  been  made 
fteward  of  the  manor. 

P.  82.  1.  7,  (b.)  "Whatever  elfe  may  be  objefted  to 
my  condu(5l,  it  cannot  be  faid  that,  after  the  exam- 
ple of  my  adverfaries,  I  ever  ihrunk  from  an  invelH- 
gation  into  the  part  I  had  afted.  The  day  that  I  arrived 
in  London  I  defired  Mr.  Ruffell,  who  had  to  wait  on  the 
King's  miniflers,  to  inform  them  that  I  was  in  tov/n,  and 
ready  to  anfwer  any  queftions  they  might  choofe  to  put  to 
me  relating  to  the  riot;  and  when  the  inquiry  into  the 
caufe  of  it  was  propofed  in  the  Houfe  of  Commons,  my 
friends  were  authorized  by  me  to  fay,  that  I  wifhed  to  be 
examined  on  the  fubje6l  at  the  bar  of  the  Houfe.  But  in 
iieither  of  the  cafes  were  my  wifhes  gratified. 

r.  83.  1.  6.  (b.)  Befides,  this  was  not  the  only  fa6l  of 
which  he  was  convifted  He  was  feen  knocking  out  the 
v/indow  frames,  and  ber.tii;g  things  to  pieces,  and  he  made 
a  fire  of  the  boards  he  had  pulled  up.  See  the  Trial, 
p.  146,  &c. 

P.  92.  1.  6.  fb.)  This,  however,  was  only  with  refpe6t 
to  that  part  of  his  lofs  which  Mr.  Ruflell  claimed  in  court. 
In  reality  he  was  probably  a  lofer  to  a  greater  amount. 

P.  100.  jt^t  the  clofe  of  the  fecond  paragraph  add — 
This  Mr.  Allen  was  the  clergyman  who  fought  a  duel 
with  a  Mr.  Delaney,  and  killed  him.  He  may  perhaps 
fend  me  a  challenge;  but  Diflenting  miniflers  do  not 
fight  duels. 


P.  121.     To  the  note  add — Will  he  do  us  the  favour  to 
fay  what  fum  was  fubfcribed  by  this  moll  refpedtable  meet- 


S  im 


2c8  ADDITIONS,  &c. 

mg  to  pay  for  the  prefents  they  fo  generoufly  voted,  ana 
will  he  have  the  goodnefs  to  tell  us  how  foon  afterwards  a 
fufficient  addition  was  made  to  it  to  defray  the  coft  of  them^ 
and  when  the  plate  Was  prefented  to  thefe  worthy  ma- 
gi Urates? 

P.  I  27.  1.  4.  (b.)  dele,  a7id  that  of  all  who  were  prcfeut  at 
the  time  he  refers  to. 

P.  132.  1.  5.  (b.)  dele,  and  I  believe  even  afterwards  fdl- 
lowed  by  fome  of  the  mob-. 

Pi  142;  Note,  read,  when  the  brothels,  and  Mr.  Brookr's 
lioufe,  were  in  danger  in  May  laft. 

P.  143.   1.  7.     Read — which,    notw'ithQanfing   the  party 
fprit  which  has  fo  long  governed  feme  bigots  among  us. 

Till  the  vvAhoie  of  this  part  of  my  Appeal  was  printed  o^T, 
1  never  read  the  Letter  addreffed  to  me  on  my  Addrcfs  to 
the  fiibfcrihers  to  the  Birmingham  library,   No,  III.  of  this 
Appendix,  by  Somebody  M.  S.  printed  in  1787,  and  ge- 
nerally afcribed  to  Mr.  Clutton,  a  clergyman  in  Birming- 
ham, whofe  fermon  on  the  fubjeft  of  the  Teft  Laws  Mr. 
Madan  laments  was  not  pliblifhed.     Having  had  a  copy 
of  tiiis  Letter  lent  me,  T  have  had  the  curiofity  to  read 
it  through,  and  have  been  not  a  little  amufed  with  the: 
fcvirrility  with  which  it  abounds  ;   and  for  the  aniufement 
of  mv  readers,  as  well  as  to  give  them  a  fpecimen  of  the 
fpirit  v/hich  actuated  the  Birmingham  clergy,  and  to  en- 
able them  to  judge  of  the  tendency  of  their  writing,  and 
no  doubt  of  their  preaching  and  daily   converfation,    t^ 
inflam^e  the  minds  of  the  common  people  againft  me,   I 
fhall  qviote  fome  pafiageS  from  it.     But  I  wifh  that  my 
>  rdiders 


ADDITIONS,    Sec.  209 

readers  would  firft  perufe  the  Addrefs  which  occafioned  this 
extraordinary  Letter,  and  alfo  my  Appeal  to  the  Profejfors  of 
Chijiian'ity,  to  which  it  alludes. 

According  to  this  Mr.  Glutton,  I  am,  p.  25,  "  a  de- 
*'  luded  vifionary ;"  "  a  proud  and  haughty  fcorner,"  p.  4; 
and  *'  a  fecret  aflaflin,"  p.  19,  He  accufes  me  both  of 
*' daring  oppofition,  and  fubtle  flratagem,"  p.  21;  of 
"  covered  artifices  to  deceive  the  unwaiy,"  p.  1 ;  and  like- 
wife  of  "  outrageous  bellowing,"  p.  25. 

My  Appeal  to  the  ProfeJJors  of  Chrijilanlty,  he  calls 
*'  poifon,  and  an  engine  of  fedition,,"  p.  5 ;  confifting 
of  *'  plaufible,  but  treacherous  reafoning,  fubtle  fophiftry, 
nay,  "  a  murderous  pamphlet,"  p.  17. 

With  refpe6l  to  my  general  chara6ler,  I  am  **  a  pub- 
"  lie  nuifance,"  p.  38.  and  "  mufl  not  expe6l  to  go  un- 
"  horfe whipped."  I  have  "  forfeited  all  indulgence,  and 
*'  muft  expe6l  every  fpecies  of  deferved  retaliation,  that 
**  thofe  who  have  been  injured  by  me,  their  friend«,  and 
*'  allies,  can  inflift,"  p.  44. 

My  "  attachment  to  Chriftianity,"  he  fiys,  p.  13,  is 
**  ideal;"  for  I  am  "  funk  into  the  gulph  of  deifm,"  p.  36. 
He  advifes  me  to  "  go  to  a  free  country,"  (meaning,  I  fup- 
pofe,  either  France  or  America)  <'  which  has  no  laws,  no 
♦'  rulers,  no  religion."  *'  There,"  fays  he,  p.  40,  "  you 
*'  may  give  the  reins  to  your  reafon,  gratify  your  appetites, 
"  and  let  loofe  all  your  lufts."  But  whether  I  go  to  this 
country  or  not,  "  a  hideous  gulph,"  (by  which  he  evi- 
dently means  hell)  "  is  gaping  for  me,  and  my  fol- 
*'  lowers,"  p.  39. 

P  Btfides. 


210  ADDITIONS,  &c. 

Befides  more  fuch  language  as  this,  which,  as  coming 
from  a  clergyman,  muft  not  be  termed  ahufe,  he  introduces 
a  long  epitaph  for  me,  p.  13,  of  which  the  following  is 
an  extradl. 

*'  The  aflumed  meeknefs  and  flmplicity  of  the  dove, 
"  hiding  the  guile  and  fubtlety  of  the  ferpent,  fmoothed  his 
*'  wrinkled  front.  The  honey  dew  of  rhetoric  flowed  from 
*'  his  tongue,  and  became  the  unfufpedled  vehicle  of  the 
*'  poifon  of  afps.  Reafon,  he  faid,  would  teach  us  how  to 
*'  weaken  the  authority  and  force  of  fcrlpture,  &c.  He 
*'  befeeched  us,  tor  the  credit  of  the  human  race,  for  the 
*'  fake  of  truth,  of  confcience,  and  our  immortal  fouls,  to 
*'  pay  divine  honours  to  his  goddefs,  &c.  &c.  &c.'* 

It  is  fome  confolation  to  think,  that  whether  I  be  able  to 
find  a  grave  or  not,  my  enemies  have  already  taken  care  to 
provide  mc  with  a  fuflacient  number  of  epitaphs. 


THE      END- 


^>  •*M 


"*:-^ 


^  -e^^ 


